Key Challenge: Lesser Key
Sep. 18th, 2003 08:11 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
chesamus.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ds_flashfictionLesser Key is 1120 words, but 126 of that is a quote, so I’m not counting it! This is a tribute to you who slave over your computers to keep me entertained ::g:: And I think “Keys” was a lovely idea for a challenge, so don't take Ray personally!
4:00pm
Ray stared at the screen. It was blank, just like his brain. God, he hated homework, hated it. Hated homework, hated school, hated Fraser for this stupid, stupid, stupid idea.
6:15pm
He stared at the screen. It was still blank. “Maybe I need some food, blood sugar is probably low, or something.” No response from Dief, but that could mean anything. Ray got up, fixed a quick sandwich, grabbed some water and sat back down. Ate the sandwich, drank the water, returned the dishes to the kitchen, sat down.
6:45pm
Stared at the screen. Got up, did the dishes, snagged some cookies, more water, sat down. Somehow, no magical plot bunny had manifested itself in the form of a 1000 word story.
7:05pm
Bathroom break (all that water), and figured since he needed one, so did Dief. Woke up the wolf, dragged him outside for a walk. The night was absolutely beautiful. The snow was new, and the air defined the word crisp. Ray walked along the inside perimeter fence and decided to look in on the dogs. Yeah, Fraser said he’d take care of them when he got home, but he was probably going to be exhausted after the long trip into Jasper. Besides, he hadn’t seen the dogs today, and he missed them.
8:47pm (9:47pm Chicago time)
The screen was not blank - instead it was filled with a listing of approximately 13,300,000 web pages. Somehow the brilliant idea of searching Google for inspiration wasn’t working. On the other hand he’d found a great listing for the International World Clock so he’d always know what time it was in Borneo. “Which is where I wish I was instead of writing this fucking story!” Ray shouted. No response to that either (Dief had gone back to sleep). OK, obviously 13,300,000 sites were too many. Maybe he could modify the search, use some more words.
11:58pm
Fraser’s return to the cabin went unnoticed by Ray who was avidly reading whatever was on the screen. That pleased the mountie no end - he knew Ray had been having problems with this particular assignment. When he’d suggested that Ray take advantage of the many on-line courses available to finish his degree, he had no idea that Ray would respond so positively. At least until this course. Strange, but Fraser thought Creative Writing would have been an ideal match for Ray with his colorful vocabulary, but such was not the case. Ray had struggled all semester, tormenting himself with the selection of each word.
He walked over, gently placed a hand on a hunched shoulder and kissed his lover on the ear. He glanced at the screen, started reading.
The voice of my beloved! Behold,
he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart:
behold, he standeth behind our wall,
he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
My beloved spake, and said unto me,
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,
and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
“Ray, the Songs of Solomon?” Puzzling, to say the least.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful. I mean, it’s like us. And I really like the part about the turtle.”
“Ray, that’s quite the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.” And it was. Neither of them was prone to hyperbole, and Ray had said more than once that he didn’t like ‘that shmoopie stuff,’ whatever that meant. They usually expressed themselves with touch, with small gestures.
Fraser made the only response possible - he gathered up his lover, manhandled him into their bedroom, and proceeded to fuck him into the mattress.
1:13am
Normally, Ray’s reaction would be to fall asleep before Fraser had a chance to remove the condom. Tonight, Ray just lay there, eyes open, mind obviously still going full speed.
“Ray, how much coffee have you had today?”
“Huh? Oh, just some this morning. Why?”
“You’re still awake.” Ray glared at him. “Ray, you know I consider it flattering. So I must wonder why you are still awake.”
“Sorry - I haven’t - I can’t think of anything to write! This class was a stupid idea. What made me think I could write English when I can’t even talk English.”
“I’m sorry, Ray. I had not realized I was interrupting your writing. I thought -”
“It was research, Benton.”
“I’m afraid I don’t see the connection. What do the Songs of Solomon have to do with your assignment?”
“Nothing, but do you know how dangerous Google is? I searched on keys. Got about thirteen million hits. Thought I’d add some other words in. Got Map Keys, and Music Keys, and Magic Keys and Enochian Keys - have you ever heard of some loon called John Dee, thought he talked to angels? - Key West, encryption keys, code keys, keyboards, key chains, keys to life, success, heaven, janitor keys, some guy named Francis...”
“Francis Scott Key. He wrote the Star Spangled Banner.”
“Hm, should have written something easier to sing. Anyway, I saw a link to something about the Greater Keys of Solomon, and that took me to a page on the Lesser Keys, and that took me to a page about Solomon, and that got me to where you found me.”
Fraser occasionally found Ray’s logic unnerving. It had made him an exceptional police officer, but conversations could take on surrealistic qualities.
“So, you aren’t done.”
“I’m not even started. And even when I write it, it ain’t over, cause then I have to post it to the class web, and everyone gets to read it, and then they can post these comments. And I have to read theirs, and make my own comments. I feel like I’m posting a picture of me naked out there.”
“Ray, you’ve worked so hard finishing up these last few credits. I’m certain you could drop this class and pick up another one that makes you more comfortable.”
“Ah, hell Ben, I can’t do that. Once I get the first one done, I’m sure it’ll be easier. I’m just kinda freaking out right now.”
Fraser pulled Ray into his arms. “Sleep, Ray. Get a fresh start in the morning.”
Fraser was almost asleep when he heard a soft mumble. “Keys. Whose brilliant fucking idea was it to write about keys?”
4:00pm
Ray stared at the screen. It was blank, just like his brain. God, he hated homework, hated it. Hated homework, hated school, hated Fraser for this stupid, stupid, stupid idea.
6:15pm
He stared at the screen. It was still blank. “Maybe I need some food, blood sugar is probably low, or something.” No response from Dief, but that could mean anything. Ray got up, fixed a quick sandwich, grabbed some water and sat back down. Ate the sandwich, drank the water, returned the dishes to the kitchen, sat down.
6:45pm
Stared at the screen. Got up, did the dishes, snagged some cookies, more water, sat down. Somehow, no magical plot bunny had manifested itself in the form of a 1000 word story.
7:05pm
Bathroom break (all that water), and figured since he needed one, so did Dief. Woke up the wolf, dragged him outside for a walk. The night was absolutely beautiful. The snow was new, and the air defined the word crisp. Ray walked along the inside perimeter fence and decided to look in on the dogs. Yeah, Fraser said he’d take care of them when he got home, but he was probably going to be exhausted after the long trip into Jasper. Besides, he hadn’t seen the dogs today, and he missed them.
8:47pm (9:47pm Chicago time)
The screen was not blank - instead it was filled with a listing of approximately 13,300,000 web pages. Somehow the brilliant idea of searching Google for inspiration wasn’t working. On the other hand he’d found a great listing for the International World Clock so he’d always know what time it was in Borneo. “Which is where I wish I was instead of writing this fucking story!” Ray shouted. No response to that either (Dief had gone back to sleep). OK, obviously 13,300,000 sites were too many. Maybe he could modify the search, use some more words.
11:58pm
Fraser’s return to the cabin went unnoticed by Ray who was avidly reading whatever was on the screen. That pleased the mountie no end - he knew Ray had been having problems with this particular assignment. When he’d suggested that Ray take advantage of the many on-line courses available to finish his degree, he had no idea that Ray would respond so positively. At least until this course. Strange, but Fraser thought Creative Writing would have been an ideal match for Ray with his colorful vocabulary, but such was not the case. Ray had struggled all semester, tormenting himself with the selection of each word.
He walked over, gently placed a hand on a hunched shoulder and kissed his lover on the ear. He glanced at the screen, started reading.
The voice of my beloved! Behold,
he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart:
behold, he standeth behind our wall,
he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
My beloved spake, and said unto me,
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,
and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
“Ray, the Songs of Solomon?” Puzzling, to say the least.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful. I mean, it’s like us. And I really like the part about the turtle.”
“Ray, that’s quite the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.” And it was. Neither of them was prone to hyperbole, and Ray had said more than once that he didn’t like ‘that shmoopie stuff,’ whatever that meant. They usually expressed themselves with touch, with small gestures.
Fraser made the only response possible - he gathered up his lover, manhandled him into their bedroom, and proceeded to fuck him into the mattress.
1:13am
Normally, Ray’s reaction would be to fall asleep before Fraser had a chance to remove the condom. Tonight, Ray just lay there, eyes open, mind obviously still going full speed.
“Ray, how much coffee have you had today?”
“Huh? Oh, just some this morning. Why?”
“You’re still awake.” Ray glared at him. “Ray, you know I consider it flattering. So I must wonder why you are still awake.”
“Sorry - I haven’t - I can’t think of anything to write! This class was a stupid idea. What made me think I could write English when I can’t even talk English.”
“I’m sorry, Ray. I had not realized I was interrupting your writing. I thought -”
“It was research, Benton.”
“I’m afraid I don’t see the connection. What do the Songs of Solomon have to do with your assignment?”
“Nothing, but do you know how dangerous Google is? I searched on keys. Got about thirteen million hits. Thought I’d add some other words in. Got Map Keys, and Music Keys, and Magic Keys and Enochian Keys - have you ever heard of some loon called John Dee, thought he talked to angels? - Key West, encryption keys, code keys, keyboards, key chains, keys to life, success, heaven, janitor keys, some guy named Francis...”
“Francis Scott Key. He wrote the Star Spangled Banner.”
“Hm, should have written something easier to sing. Anyway, I saw a link to something about the Greater Keys of Solomon, and that took me to a page on the Lesser Keys, and that took me to a page about Solomon, and that got me to where you found me.”
Fraser occasionally found Ray’s logic unnerving. It had made him an exceptional police officer, but conversations could take on surrealistic qualities.
“So, you aren’t done.”
“I’m not even started. And even when I write it, it ain’t over, cause then I have to post it to the class web, and everyone gets to read it, and then they can post these comments. And I have to read theirs, and make my own comments. I feel like I’m posting a picture of me naked out there.”
“Ray, you’ve worked so hard finishing up these last few credits. I’m certain you could drop this class and pick up another one that makes you more comfortable.”
“Ah, hell Ben, I can’t do that. Once I get the first one done, I’m sure it’ll be easier. I’m just kinda freaking out right now.”
Fraser pulled Ray into his arms. “Sleep, Ray. Get a fresh start in the morning.”
Fraser was almost asleep when he heard a soft mumble. “Keys. Whose brilliant fucking idea was it to write about keys?”
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no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 01:22 am (UTC)and i certainly know the feeling. :)
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Date: 2003-09-19 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 02:16 am (UTC)And Francis Scott Key, you can't forget him. I get like a triple word score for that, don't I?
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Date: 2003-09-19 02:23 am (UTC)All in favor?
(Very cute story, hon!)
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Date: 2003-09-19 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 03:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 04:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 10:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 03:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 11:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 01:22 pm (UTC)Very nice!
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Date: 2003-09-19 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 04:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 04:08 pm (UTC)very cute. liked it. so many different keys...
no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-19 07:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-21 05:39 am (UTC)Lovely, Ches. :-)
-mercy
no subject
Date: 2003-09-21 01:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-21 11:04 pm (UTC)sigh, we've all been there....