WYTCHCROFT

MALIFIC: An About Face Interlude: There was a polite round of applause. The sophisticated, self-consciously civilised music of classical strings, waltz time and the ambient tinkling of jewelled fingers, cups and plates -china, of course. Shindig like this, he thought – and they always gotta go with the china. Never a good idea, so damned fragile. Always bound to end up bro- “Captain Malcolm Reynolds and The Most respectable Inara Serra”. A smooth voice ushered them in. “Fancy aint it!” Kaylee looked up at him from under a wayward lock of red hair. She took in the room beyond. “So… fine.” She gave a wide grin. Threw her arms around him. “I love my Captain.” She said. “Daddy” said River from behind her. “Well, shiny….” Said Reynolds gently prying himself loose. “Although – ‘Daddy’? I thought I told you before not to – and where’s Inara’s got to?” Kaylee grinned again. “Oh, she’s over there.” She waved. “Y’know. Dancing. Looking beautiful. Over there. With the other man.” “What?!” “One wearing a shirt.” Kaylee giggled. Mal realised he was clad only in his vest and pants. In his hands he was carrying a big beaker full of strong smelling beer. River looked at him earnestly. “You think you’re remembering it all wrong. But you’re not.” Her eyes were full of concern. Ok, so – confusion – but he didn’t have time for this right now. He had to – he was supposed to have come here with Inara for rut’s sake. And she was off – well, we’ll soon see about that. And he plunged forward into the smoothly dancing flow of people. There! Inara was swaying gracefully the fingertips of a gloved hand touching those of – yes gorram it – a stranger. Tall, well built. Wearing a decorated suit or fancy uniform. There were medals upon the chest. As Reynolds approached them, Inara turned with a hot look “Honestly!” she said, “I should’ve known you would-” Mal scowled in reply “I’m just here to look out for -” The other man cut him off sharply. “Look out for what Malcolm. A whore? Isn’t that just like you – think she belongs to you huh? Like your ship, your crew, your-” he laughed unpleasantly. “Family?” Mal’s fist began to clench. The man had not finished. “See though – I don’t believe Family’s built on the same things you do – dirt, crime, sin, whoring and the like. Family’s built on loyalty. Loyalty comes from the recognition of power. And I don’t see any power in you.” He nodded at Mal’s raised fist. “Can’t say as I blame you for being angry – truth hurts, as they say. Tho’ I reckon,” - He struck out suddenly with a lean hard fist, sending Mal sprawling to the ornately polished floor – “that probably hurt a deal more.” Staggering, Mal rose on unsteady legs. He lurched forward. Heedless of Inara’s waving him away. The two again came face to face. They shared the same face. Mal stared open mouthed. The other Mal spoke up anew. “Oh you may stare Captain Reynolds. But what are you really seeing here? You think I’m a bad person – think I disrespect your whore? Think you are yourself of worth and without stain? – well… correct me but, here’s a thing, you want this woman? Take her for your own? Well I have eyes myself now. And I can plainly see – you’re married already.” HUH? “It’s true!” Inara’s voice was accusing. She raised a hand, a slim finger pointing to his temple, pointing to his crown. His own fingers reached up to it now – slowly – feeling at first just the hard edges of his skull, then the wiry tangle of his hair and then – petals…in wonder, he realised that there were petals upon his head – bound together like a wreath. A marriage wreath. “No – no” he said hurriedly, “you don’t – I’m not – hold on a gorram minute here!” He could smell the fresh flower fragrance, it conjured up warm nights, a contented belly full of mead and a pretty lass, smiling before him – handing him the flowers, handing him the wreath. “It was never real,” he began staring at the faces floating before him. His vision was blurry. Wiped his eyes. “I never”- there was blood on his finger tips. Musta pricked himself, he though

PHYRELIGHT

So, today was the first day of classes at my university. My last class today ended at 6:50 pm, and I took my time getting home b/c I was so exhausted! Before going to my apartment, I stoped to pick up my mail, and there was a note saying that a package arrived and it was waiting in the front office. It could have been only ONE thing, [i]Serenity, Collector's Edition[/i]!!! I went to the main office, and to my dismay, the door was locked! They usually close at 7 pm, so I looked at my watch: 7:10. [b]AAAAAARRRRRRRRGH![/b] They open at 9 am, and I WILL be there to get my DVD! But even worse, I have a 10 am class fallowed by a 12:30 pm class. I won't be able to get home until about 2:30 pm! Oy, if Wash was there this evening to drive me home like [i]Serenity[/i] was on full burn and reavers were on our tail, I would be watching it [b]RIGHT NOW[/b]!

WYTCHCROFT

"No dirge shall I upraise,/ But waft the angel on her flight with a pæan of old days!" Lenore - Edgar Allan Poe This quote sums up for me the appeal of two singers i listen to and am inspired by while writing. Lisa Germano:

JAYNESGIRL212

I really can't believe it! I had preordered BDM CE from Amazon (as well as a few other special purchases such as Firefly visual comp. 2). The movie was released on the 21. I had my movie in my hand the morning of the 22nd! I didn't even put a rush order on it! I'm very impressed. I think I'll be ordering from them again soon.

ZONER

When i was bad, it was fun to steal, i made it – fun. On my own. You can make things fun – when you’re on your own. Now i am not bad. No more. Kissed goodnight to the bad girl. Just sometimes – well sometimes i do bad things. Not fun. I never asked for anything. Any of this. The glitter in my fingers. The gleam in my eye. A way to survive. It can be hard to be a hero – on your own. Better to have someone – something. A monkey. A mutant. I call them friends. Something to do – together – something to share. Fear. We share fear. It lurks within us. It lurks. Here in the shadows i’m a lurker too. Learnt to lurk. Learnt to love the shadows. Learning, leastways. Street schooled you get a knowledge of shadows sooner or later. It can be hard. Better to have – friends It’s a better word than family – on the streets you don’t have family, you don’t... I had a brother once. He’s dead. Dead. And i’m standing in the shadows, the long shadows cast by the ‘Blue Sun’ Building... And i wanna know. How come i can smell my brother here.

ZONER

[u]First Page:[/u] SPLASH PANEL: very expressionist – blade runner meets caligari [u]The Blue Sun Building[/u] Very Tall. Perspective makes it pinched at the bottom, wide at top – Like a coffin or a vampyre with folded wings. A cloak is also suggested by the large shadow the building casts. Inky, bloody, black. Edge of frame: A random vehicle light reveals FRAY crouching. Inset: Panel: FRAY c/o her face. Tense. “I can smell him – here.” [u]Second Page:[/u] A series of 3 – 5 panels, frames overlapping, like jumps cuts or stills. Gradual close up of building. A winking light – inside.. Beats like a heart. Panel 6: Clearly we are x-raying in now. We see a plexi-glass coffin shape. From the base come tubes and wires. Panel 7: Long panel down right side of page. C/o an arm – clearly some sort of astronaut or biohazard suit. The gloved hand is rigid, talon like. Man: “AAAAUUUUGGCCCH!!!” Panel 8: left side of page. More hands. Blue gloved hands. A brief case snapping shut. “Boiled in the bag again, huh?” “Just like the others.” Panel 9: two faces in shadow. Only the blue gloves resting the case are clearly visible. “Put him in the protein freezer with the rest. –sigh-” “Yes Sir.” (by J/0)