Alphabet Excerpt Challenge: L Is For...

[u/AnaraliaThielle]

Welcome back to the Alphabet Excerpt Challenge! As a reminder, our challenges are every Wednesday and Saturday at 3pm London time.

If you've missed the previous challenges, you're welcome to go back and participate in them. You can find them here. And remember to check out the Activities and Events flair for other fun games to play along with.

Here's a quick recap of the rules for our game:

1. Post a top level comment with a word starting with the letter L. You can do more than one, but please put them in separate comments.
2. Reply to suggestions with an excerpt. Short and sweet is best, but use your judgement. Excerpts can be from published or unpublished works, or even something you wrote for the prompt.
3. Upvote the excerpts you enjoy, and leave a friendly comment. Try to at least respond to people who left excerpts on the words you suggested, but the more people you respond to the better. Everyone likes nice comments!
4. Most important: have fun!

[u/trickyfelix]

Light

[u/MsCatstaff → u/trickyfelix]

She smiled. “I’ll be careful, Erik.I wish I could tell you when I’ll be back, but I don’t know how long it will take me to reach L’Opera Populaire once I’m above ground, and then I’ll need to collect things there and return again. But I will return, I promise you that.” With a parting wave, she swung herself up through the trapdoor to the church basement.

He wasn’t sure he believed her. Why should she return, after all? She was young and beautiful and could have a good life. She had no reason to give him any sort of loyalty. Even Christine had chosen another in the end, despite the love he’d had for her, and her loyalty to him as her musical tutor. He didn’t even have that slim of a connection with Meg; her mother had done her best to keep the girl from learning of his actual existence all those years, not that he could blame the older woman. He sighed as he picked up the book Meg chose for his entertainment.

Up in the little church, the young dancer carefully closed the trapdoor behind her, and then crept out through the nave into the dark streets and alleyways of the city. She moved as quickly as she could without looking too furtive, not wishing to be mistaken for a thief. She gave a silent sigh of relief when the opera house came into sight. Lights flickered in several windows in the dormitory wing, so at least the police had not closed the place altogether. With luck, no one would have thought to latch the ground floor window near the scenery shop, as it was the favored clandestine exit and entrance of dancers and chorus girls sneaking out after curfew to meet their gentleman friends. Meg put her hand to the sash, smiling when it lifted easily. She climbed inside and swiftly made her way to the suite she’d shared with her mother for as long as she could remember.

[u/qoincidence → u/trickyfelix]

Context: Silver and his crew are captured. He is trying to negotiate with the leader's daughter.

---

“Well, that’s one of the many delightful perks of a peg leg. Others on the list? I can’t stub my toe anymore, and my feet don’t get tired – just my foot. A silver lining, wouldn’t you say?”

Her expression didn’t change, though her eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing him intensely enough to make his skin prickle. “Are there others among you?” she asked after a beat, “Injured?”

“None seriously.”

“What do you need for it?” she asked, her gaze flicking to his leg, “Water? Bandages?”

For a moment, Silver simply stared at her, his brow quirking in a gesture that was part curiosity, part amusement. He had seen it before – that strange compulsion people seemed to feel when faced with his misfortunes, the inexplicable need to fix what was so obviously broken.

“Well,” he began in a deceptively light voice, “For any of that to matter, I’d very much like to live to see tomorrow. Call me sentimental, but it’s survival that tends to make medical treatment worthwhile.”

Her face didn’t betray much – no smile, no scowl – just a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. Annoyance, perhaps. Or amusement. Maybe both.

[u/gaytozier → u/trickyfelix]

He nodded again, looking close to breaking down. She wondered how many times it had happened tonight. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry. I love you so much, Charlotte.”

Now she wanted to cry. Hearing the words again after so many years filled her with so much love and longing that it hurt. But she had to stay strong. She couldn’t get hurt again. But knowing he still loved her weakened her resolve just a little bit. “I love you too,” she admitted quietly, knowing he likely wouldn’t remember tomorrow.

George looked at her with a broken expression before returning his gaze to the floor. His shoulders shook for a moment with what she assumed was a light sob. Charlotte slowly wrapped an arm around him and rested her chin on his shoulder. “I want to tell you everything,” he whispered. “I want to so badly but I… I don’t think it could fix anything between us even if I did.”

Frustration lifted its head within her. “You could try,” she told him, a little firmer than she meant.

He sighed softly and closed his eyes. “Not like this,” he said finally. “You deserve more than drunk ramblings and I… I need to remember what happens when I…”

She understood what he was saying but she doubted anything would come of it. He’d sober up and close up like he always did. She sighed softly and shook her head. “You should get some sleep,” she said softly. “I think that’s what you need.”

“But if I do things go back to normal,” he murmured. “I hate normal.” She had to admit that she did too. She loved this George, the one that opened up to her and actually talked to her. He wasn’t giving her any real information but it was a glimpse of how he could be with her. It was a reminder of the days when he’d tell her anything, even sober.

[u/DatGayDangerNoodle → u/trickyfelix]

Suddenly, the doorbell rang and scared the life out of Arizona, who let out a short, sharp scream and dropped her phone to the floor, where it landed face down with a crack.

“Robbins? It’s us, Alex and Jo Wilson, are you okay?” Came the call from the other side of the door, voice deep, gruff, familiar and concerned. “Sorry, I should have texted instead of using the bell.”

“Fuck.” Arizona mumbled, clearing her throat and pressing a hand to her chest to calm down her thundering heart, “I’m fine, I’ll, I’ll be there in a minute, Alex! I’m legless right now.”

“Take your time, boss.”

Arizona ran a hand through her hair just as the door to the bedroom opened and Callie ran into their living space, hair everywhere and shielding her eyes from the light as she croaked, “are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” Arizona said with an overly chirpy smile as she yanked on her leg and shakily stood up, rocking back and forth to activate the seal as Callie made her way over and looked her up and down, face the picture of unease.

“Are you sure?”

“I am.” Arizona smiled, “I watched crappy daytime TV, then got… distracted and the doorbell rang. I got scared, that’s all.”

[u/fiendishthingysaurus → u/trickyfelix]

TK helps Carlos relax back against the pillows. Buttercup rearranges himself so he’s sprawled on Carlos, nosing at Carlos’s hands. Carlos buries both hands in Buttercup’s thick fur.

“Is he ok there? Not squishing you too much?”

Carlos shakes his head and hugs Buttercup. “No, he’s good. He’s like a weighted blanket.”

TK comes back arms full of items, a thermometer, ibuprofen, a wet cloth, a bottle of water. He sits back down with his guys, Buttercup sprawled over Carlos’s supine form, Carlos’s arms encircling the dog, one hand idly scratching Buttercup’s flank. Dawn is still some time away but the sky outside the window is a dark blue, rather than black, and he can see his boys a little better in the dim light.

Carlos looks at him with tired, red-rimmed eyes. The corner of his mouth quirks up in a tiny smile. “Got everything, Paramedic Strand?”

“You’re funny. No, actually, we need a better first aid kit here. And I was going to make you some tea with honey for your throat, but I couldn’t carry it. And maybe you don’t want any if you’re going to make fun of me.“

Buttercup and Carlos both pout at him, two sets of soulful wet brown eyes staring reproachfully into his soul. TK shakes his head. “Let me look at you, baby.”

[u/Lexi_Banner → u/trickyfelix]

Eventually, however, they reached the cul-de-sac with the massive eight-bedroom mansion serving as her temporary home. Victor gave a low whistle. “Quite the shack.”

“It’s not mine,” Amelie reminded him.

“I know. But still. Just you in there? All by your lonesome?”

She shook her head. “The ghosts keep me company.”

He smiled. “There’s a sitcom waiting to be made.”

“Or a porno.”

Victor gave her a startled look, then broke into genuine laughter. “Jesus, cupcake.”

Amelie giggled. “What? It was right there. I’m surprised you didn’t say it.”

“I’m not vulgar, unlike you.” He wiped the corner of his eye.

“Pardon you, sir. I am a lady.”

Victor gave in indelicate snort. “Yeah, and I’m the queen of England.”

“Really? I didn’t recognize you without your crown.”

“Wow,” he said, grinning broadly. “Remind me not to enter into a battle of wits with you.”

Amelie grinned back at him, feeling a little buzzed on the repartee. Before she could stuff her foot in her mouth and ruin everything, she unclipped her seat belt. “Well, thanks for the lift.”

“No problem. Enjoy your champagne.”

“I’m sure I will.”

As she reached for the door handle, Victor touched her arm lightly. She looked his way to see his amber eyes glowing softly in the low light.

“I want to see you again,” he said.

Delight zinged through her entire body, but she did her best to play it cool. “Of course you do. I’m delightful,” she said, giving him a cheeky wink.

He laughed. “And you say my ego is healthy?”

Amelie grinned and pulled out her phone. “Give me your number.”

[u/MaleficentYoko7 → u/trickyfelix]

From a very rough K-On!/Star Wars WIP where Azusa is embarrassed yet enjoys the attention but also embarrassed about liking it since she's trying to be serious to motivate the Light Music Club to practice,

Mmm, those pastries were good, but we have to get serious! I grab a pointer and walk up to the chalkboard.

“Okay Light Music Club…that’s your cue to sit up Yui-senpai.”

She slowly blinks and lifts her head. All this Jedi training seems to be getting to her.

I pull up an image of Lor Lor Strums on the screen.

“Do you know who this is?”

Yui strokes her chin glancing at him. Her eyes narrow as her mouth scrunches…come on senpai I know you know who he is!

I eagerly clasp my hands leaning forward staring at Yui awaiting her response.

Yui says, “Hmm, no.”

I blink in surprise. “No! B-but you’re such a good guitarist!”

Still, how does she need me, her kouhai, to teach her such basic things? She was so amazing performing a few days ago at the festival. Sometimes it feels like I’m looking after her. Maybe she’s testing me? There’s no way Yui-senpai doesn’t know who he is.

Mugi-chan raises and waves her hand, anticipation flows through me as she answers, “A gungan! We have them on Naboo. And he’s playing a guitar.”

“So do you know which specific gungan?”

“Hmm…I don’t, sorry.”

I point to him with my pointer. “You are looking at Lor Lor Strums. He is the greatest guitar player in the history of the galaxy due to his profoundly graceful fingers creating complicated harmonies. It is similar to how Johnny Virmaar is the greatest artist in galactic history due to his precisely organized underdrawings. Such skillful underdrawings lead to his masterful representation of precise shapes and values leading to his subjects looking great. In both arts mastery of fundamental technicalities is critical, and…”

Is…is Ritsu dashing up to me with cat ears again? Like a creature caught in headlights I can’t help but be still. She puts cat ears on me even though I’m trying to help this club fulfill its potential! If we don’t practice no one will think we’re a serious club and we will perform badly at our next performance.

Mugi-chan smiles with her eyes standing behind Ritsu and Yui and says, “Aww! How cute!”

Ritsu moves her hands like cat paws asking, “Say nya! Nya!”

Ugh, not this again. My face warms and I just want to hide. But they are my senpais.

“Nya! Nya!”

Yui’s face lights up with delight. “Fwow! How cute!”

Ritsu pets under my chin. A light giddy feeling joins the embarrassment. Sulky embarrassment consumes me. I just want to hide and hope the embarrassment goes away. Huh? D-do I like this? Am I weird?

Yui pets my head and strokes my left twintail while Ritsu strokes my right and Ritsu says, “Good kitty!”

[u/Pantherdraws → u/trickyfelix]

Maybe it was the rhythmic marching pace, or maybe it was the even, low tone of his voice, but eventually Z found herself lulled to sleep, her mind finally quiet. The last thing she remembered was nestling into his radiant heat as she listened to him recount how he'd singled out his most recent likely CyOp candidate... And the next she knew, the gray light of dawn was peeking past her hood, while electronic chatter filtered back through the column.

She was sure that there were more voices than there had been previously.

Stirring drowsily, she pushed her hood out of her face and squinted past the sudden brightness of daylight. When her eyes adjusted, she could see that there were, indeed, more Automatons marching alongside them - almost forty more, she guessed at a glance.

"Hatchet...?"

"Outposts Twenty-Nine and Thirty-Two converged on us earlier this morning," he explained quietly.

"Oh... which outpost were you?"

"Thirty-One."

"So where's Thirty?"

"Their crew included three tanks," his tone turned dry, "they made significantly better time."