RoztekaWrites

[Haunted—Keep Out]

That was what the repeated message on the tape they ducked through to enter the store read. The spooky season was here, and decorations were up all over the town. This little shop? Low-key, serious looking warnings. Not a plastic bat or carved pumpkin to be seen.

Detective Carl North always carried a 750g bottle of fine table salt with him. One look at the kids contorted in possessed rictus had him pour a heaping handful onto his palm. With a slow exhale, a plume of yellow fire was cast over them to drive out the spirits.

Both kids took a long, ragged breath. They looked like death given five seconds in the office microwave, pale and peaky.

North thumbed towards the tape. "Can't you two read?"

"We t-thought it w-was just for a laugh!" one lad spoke, teeth chattering.

"Lots of stores have that stuff!" the other whimpered.

The government had ignored their department's advice to restrict the sale of Halloween hazard tape; this incident would be going into the rebuke against their short sightedness.

but I've never left my home country, so I'm not sure if I qualify as an international lesbian.

Inspired by the /r/Fanfiction discord chat this morning about how Cardassians flirt. Firstly, Miles and Julian talking after 'Destiny' (DS9 S3E15):

"At least Keiko took it well… how was I supposed to know our debates over engineering was considered flirting in Cardassia?!" "That's what all this is about, Miles!? I argue with Garak about all sorts of things over lunch. We even argue about lunch at times and we… uh… oh…" "… You know, I wondered why you didn't warn me, Julian. Turns out you didn't bloody know either!"

Then, Garak and Julian at lunch the next day:

"Tell me something, Doctor. You are being particularly argumentative today. In all my years I never thought I would hear such an impassioned stance on what makes the perfect Idanian Spice Pudding, and yet here we are." "Oh, I just thought that… do you mind?" "Do I mind? Yes, actually. I am delighted. Continue."

And finally, when the debating gets too much:

Sonya grinned, making three coffees as Johnny talking excitedly about filmographies. Someone else might have been jealous about their partner getting so excited over another woman. This was understandable. The new arrival took her brew, breathing deep of the aroma. "How'd you know how I like it, babe?" Sonya winked. "I'm just that good." She gazed over her sunglasses. "So I can see!" "Hey now, don't be flirting with each other!" Johnny gulped. "I get why you would, but-" "Please, you're admiring her as much as you admire yourself!" "Well…" "So, tell us about yourself?" "My favourite subject!" Janet laughed.

Finishing off @cagebladeweek with a Day 7 drabble featuring a new arrival from the multiverse!

8 drabbles in total, for a fandom I've never written for and not had much experience with since the 90s, but it's been fun writing for these characters. When inspiration hits, you gotta drabble.

“Relax, Johnny,” Soyna massaged his shoulders, “she’ll be fine.” “It’s not Cassie I’m worried about, babe.” He flicked through his newest script without paying attention to the words. “It’s the kindergarten I’m worried about.” “Cassie’s five, what’s the worst she can do?” Sonya laughed. Yes, they’d already been instructing her in their combined martial arts. They hoped that, plus swimming and gymnastics, would use up some boundless energy. It hadn’t. She seemed more energetic than before! Sonya’s phone rang. “Yes, speaking… She’ll come down from the tree when she’s ready. Well, he shouldn’t have tried to take her sunglasses, then!”

On the red carpet for Star Fighter, Johnny posed proudly for the flash of the cameras as snapshot after snapshot was taken. He didn’t grin because of the rave reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Nor did he beam because of the boost to his bank balance. Johnny, besuited and bemused, was stood next to the shining Blade that split the darkness in twain. Sonya was resplendent in a green dress that showed off a Special Forces body that could fill an entire Sports Illustrated edition and not be enough. Those strong arms held their little starlet; looking cute in oversized sunglasses.

“You’re late!” Johnny called from the kitchen where he’d been keeping dinner warm. “You have no idea,” Sonya replied, steeling herself before heading through and offering the gift-wrapped box to him. Food smelled great. Her stomach still tumbled in free-fall. “A surprise, for me?” her partner smiled, offering a kiss on the lips she gladly accepted. “New shades?” “No, not sunglasses.” Johnny unwrapped it, saw Clearblue’s logo, stared at Sonya, then back to the box. “I’m late,” Sonya stated. “You… us… are we… having a little star?” Johnny whispered. “Let’s see…” The ‘plus’ rapidly confirmed a star would be born.

“You broke it!” Johnny screamed, clutching both hands over his nose and eyes. Trying to show off had given Sonya the opening she needed. Her fist connected with a solid, eye-watering crunch. “Your nose?” Sonya panted triumphantly, if exhausted. “My Ray-bans!” he howled, shaking hands holding the shattered halves mournfully. Johnny instinctively slipped his glasses back into the protective case as that dangerous Blade drew near. The last time they met, she’d broken his favourite pair and cruelly taken the remains out of his hands. Sonya brushed her hair back and offered him a gift-wrapped box. “Had them repaired. Sorry.”

Two proud warriors of Earthrealm had fought off the best that the Realms had thrown at them countless times, so how was influenza beating the proverbial out of them this badly!? They were united while unwell; shuffling stiffly about the kitchen groaning, grumbling, shivering, and sweating as a panacea was made. Sonya and Johnny huddled over a stockpot bubbling away with a chicken noodle soup cobbled together with ingredients from the depths of the pantry and fridge-freezer. The aromatic steam soaked through their congestion. They'd slurp soup on the sofa; a childhood favourite film of hers on in the background.

“Sonya, you’re underdressed,” Johnny sighed. Glancing around, Sonya gestured at the frigid tundra they’d stepped onto through the portal and then pointed at her arctic-appropriate outfit. Padded jacket, fur-lined boots, thermal leggings under her thick trousers, and a snug hat with earflaps nestled on her head. Johnny reached into his jacket and produced one of his many spare pairs of sunglasses with a flick of his hand. “Seriously?” Sonya stared at him. “Oh, absolutely! Don’t look behind you until you get them on.” Her head started to turn. Glasses slid over her face just in time to avoid the snow-blindness.

For @cagebladeweek - Day #1 prompt: Winter

He took the right path, she took the left. They had sight of each other as fists and feet did the speaking for the pair. When their foes refused to listen? Knees and elbows added some salient points to the conversation. The routes veered off from one another, crammed with foes yearning to give their reply. "Fly solo, Sonya? Just for a bit?" Johnny called. He'd miss seeing her eloquence. "Fine," she shouted, flashing a grin. "I'll roll the red carpet out for when you catch up." "You gonna blow me a kiss?" "Johnny, you know that never works out."