I was trolling through some old files and stumbled across this piece. I'd forgotten I'd ever written it and am not quite sure why I wrote it in the first place either. But it has a nice tone to it, I think.
I figured it had been a while since I posted anything up here and I might as well dip my toe...
It's another one of my little forays into what ficcing can do, please go with it - its an experiment in form.
"You're more like the wind."
"What?"
"Your temperament. Light and airy one moment, gusting and strong the next. Mercurial, undecided, temperamental."
"I can't tell if you're insulting me or complimenting me."
"Neither. I'm stating a fact."
"A fact." (dry response)
"Yes. A fact. You my dear are like the air."
"Go on then." (resigned, but intrigued)
"Well, think about the air. It can be soft and gentle, like you are with victims, but it can also be fast and lightening quick, when it catches hair it's like a whip – hurts. You do that sometimes, when you don't think."
(frown mars her face, not happy with that assessment, pride stinging because it is the truth)
"Strong gale, gusting and blowing, a storm. Dangerous, wild. Haven't seen that to its extent yet, but it's there isn't it?"
(Silence, contemplating)
"What about you then? Which element are you?"
"Take a guess."
"I'm not good with the guessing Jane."
"Sure you are. You just don't like to be wrong, and to be right you have to take the chance that you could be wrong."
(Thinks, starts to select water, but knows this feels wrong)
"Fire."
"Fire?" (amused)
"Yes fire. A little is helpful, warm, heats you up, makes you feel good (obviously not thinking about how this conversation could sound), but too much and the house burns down. Dangerous to the extreme, a little wind never hurt anyone. But a little fire, that stills hurts, an accidental touch and you're burned. But beautiful to watch. Mesmerizing."
"Apt." (he replies after a moment of stunned hesitation)
(Silence follows them in their strange elemental conversation. More than words have been exchanged)
Meh...
Told you it was an experiment.
I would be extremely grateful for any thoughts, flames included (but only if you give me the chance to express my thoughts in return) - if you can't own the flame, don't bother.
Arc.