The Babylon 5 Drabble project

For submission of Babylon 5 drabbles (fics of exactly 100 words) on assigned prompts.

[syb5-blog]

Slyly

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

He studies the man, quietly. It is the first time they have been left alone since… Marcus risked his life to protect the best of them. But he cannot find the words to give proper thanks for his bravery, so he remains silent.

“Perhaps you would benefit from reading Lady Windermere’s Fan.”

Gratitude does not fully outweigh suspicion. “Is it another lyric that will preoccupy my thoughts when they should be focused?”

“It’s a play, not a poem.”

But the man does avoid his eyes.

[syb5-blog]

Shamefully

The first steps are automated. Retreat. Remember. Reflect.

He has known, of course, that he could kill if he had to. Known, too, that he was capable of ruthlessness when required. To risk the lives of others beside his own. If the reason was good enough. But he had thought, no believed, that he would never lose his footing. That he would remember right and wrong and distinguish between the two.

But there is nothing to justify what happened. Well there is a reason. And part of him wishes it were good.

Still, it is time to leave.

For good?

[syb5-blog]

Sincerely

His smile is confused, his chest comfortingly warm beneath her hand. He continues to speak, endearing himself further to her with every word. Every bit of his proposal to reform temple training. She approves more, perhaps, than he knows. They have to change to prepare for what is to come.

But she must contain her delight in his words, obey the gentle guidance to stop displaying her affection too openly in front of the humans who could not be expected to understand.

“We should rise, my dear, good friend,” she mumbles when he finishes speaking. And he follows her command.

[syb5-blog]

Sadly

Another man dies and there is nothing he can do. A good man? Bad man? Who could say, they first met mere minutes ago. Not nearly long enough to judge, if it were up to him to pass judgment. He hardly meets the ones he can save, there is too little time. And all he can do is patch them up and send them back so they get another chance to die.

It is like trying to fit a band aid on a gaping wound, one that requires surgery. But fixing a whole people’s misery is far beyond his skills.

[syb5-blog]

Softly

He is unsure what to expect as he follows Mollari. The cell could be empty, it would be best if the cell were empty. But why would the Centauri take fresh Spoo to an empty dungeon?

Mollari takes forever, talking to the guard, convincing the man to let them enter the cell. But the room is dark safe for Mollari’s light and there is no reply safe for a soft jingling of chains as someone rises in the back of the room.

She feels warm in his arms, alive, and he can but whisper her name in silent wonder. Na’Toth.  

[droidmom]

Prompt: Stars (or Hug?)

For the B5 Drabble Project.

Livia and Vicenti are two Centauri OCs I made recently who try to aid the Narn resistance. Vicenti’s husband is in military politics, so they got brought along to one of the Centauri outposts on Narn. 

“There must be something we can do.” Livia gazed up from the balcony. Stars bled through Narn’s night-sky despite the smoke.

“I know, my love.” Vicenti wrapped her arms around her. She lowered her lips to Livia’s ear. “But I fear if we do not lay low, we will be caught.”

“Can you feel them as I do? Their screams? Their pain?” Tears streaked down Livia’s pale cheeks. “I cannot bear it much longer.”

Another bomb dropped, causing Livia to collapse in Vicenti’s arms. She shouldn’t have brought her here, but without her abilities, they did not stand a chance.

[b5drabbleproject]

Babylon 5 Drabble Project Prompt List for 4/12/19

More drabble prompts!

For those of you who are new to the project:

How It Works: Every  other Friday (don’t hold me to this, please, but I’m going to try my   best), I’ll post a list of five prompts (most of which have been sent in  by you guys!) to write drabbles on.  A drabble is exactly 100 words.   Not 99, not 101.  100 on the dot.  You may write on one prompt, all   five prompts, or any number in between.  You may also write as many drabbles as you want on a particular prompt.  While I am asking for fics of 100 words for this challenge, if inspiration strikes you with a   particular prompt, I won’t be offended if you take it and run with it.

In  order to have your drabble posted to the blog, please MESSAGE ME WITH A  LINK TO THE DRABBLE ONCE IT’S POSTED ON YOUR ACCOUNT!  I’ll then reblog  it to this blog, which serves as a place to keep our drabble collection.

Drabbles are to be Babylon 5 related.  Obviously.

The Rules:
 -Rule  #1: BE NICE. No pooping in other people’s Fruit Loops. If somebody   wants to write about two characters smooching who you don’t think should  be smooching, that doesn’t give you the right to be mean to that person  or make negative comments about their work or views.   People work  really hard on their writing, even when it’s only 100 words, so keep  your comments NICE.  Be nice to all participants, be nice to yourself,  just basically be nice to everyone.  (Exception: you don’t necessarily  have to be nice to the characters.  Because if y’all have ever read my  fanfictions, you know just how much I looooooove to be mean to the B5  characters…one in particular…) -Rule #2: No NSFW. Mainly, I really  don’t want to read about nekkid Minbari or Vir’s tentacle dicks (can I  get off this example train now?  I regret so many things) or anything of  that nature.  If you are unhappy with this, feel free to start your own  B5 NSFW drabble collective.  No judgement. Just here is not the place. -Rule #3: Tag your triggers.  (Basically, see Rule #1.) *Also,  please leave (positive) feedback for other people’s drabbles -   sometimes a little nice comment can make all the difference! *And,   please message me with prompt ideas!  We ALWAYS need more prompts!  You might not see your idea immediately, but it WILL come around. Please contact this blog or me personally (Mod @traveller19) with any questions.

Here  is the prompt list for 4/12/19!  The official writing period for these  will end on 4/26/19, although you’re always welcome to write on and submit  for previous prompts.

Prompts:

1. Hug

2. Band-aid

3. Quizzical (from sysanya’s alphabetical prompt list)

4. Run (from sysanya’s alphabetical prompt list)

5. Stars

Thank you guys so much!  :D :D :D  Also please reblog this post so #b5drabbleproject gets more visibility!

Have fun!!!

-Mod Traveller

[sublimegriffin]

She’d demanded to see him as soon as she could stand. The expected, deadly shock had never materialised; instead, to her surprise she was seized from behind, hurled away. Dazedly, she saw his body under tangled wreckage and knew what he’d done.

Now, every part of her ached; hands blistered and burnt after tearing through searing metal, collarbone and ribs broken. But alive.

He woke as she approached, smiling weakly.

‘We’re being sent home"

“Probably for the best. Not sure we’re much use to anyone.”

She looked away, eyes bright.

“I…I thought…you'd…”

"Still here”

She nods.

“I’m glad”

[droidmom]

Prompt: Cuddle

For the B5 Drabble Project.

Some quick notes: the “Grins” are the academy’s masked authority figures and Lyta’s grandmother is a really high ranking figure in the Corps.

Children don’t normally skip when leaving the Grins, but children don’t normally have a grandmother like Natasha Alexander. This time, her gift is a stuffed bunny. Lyta holds it close, but not so close the other kids can’t see, and walks back to her bunk. 

She hugs it tight, soft fur nuzzling against her face. It’s a way to keep its black button eyes from seeing the kids in the courtyard jumping roping or playing Cops ‘n’ Blips. Since she can’t block their shrieking laughter as naturally as passing thoughts, she dives under her blankets with her new friend alone.

[droidmom]

Prompt: Numbers 

For the B5 Drabble Project.

There are twenty agonizing minutes until her shift ends. Twenty minutes could mean another ambassadorial dispute, another cranky pilot, or another disaster trapping her for another six hours.

On any other day, she’d groan and begrudgingly accept it, but today she’s counting down the seconds. She stares down the jumpgate, daring it to open, daring it to face her wrath. Corwin peeks up from his console and makes the wise choice to not engage.

At the clock’s allowance, the weight of the universe lifts off her shoulders and she bids C'n'C farewell. After all, she’s kept Talia waiting long enough.

[syb5-blog]

Intercultural Exchange

“First you appreciate the proportions. Then you smell it, take in this wonderful, unique, incomparable smell. Now you need to be very careful when you begin to use your fingers. You do not want to hurt the inner skin or sweet juices will cover your hands and you might need to suck them clean.”

Ah yes, a mildly scandalized gasp. He smiles brightly, separating the slices and offering a sample. “Taste of it.”

“I was unaware that your people observe rituals regarding your food.”

“Oranges are special. You need to treat them with respect.”

“How many do we need, Captain?”

[syb5-blog]

Spoken and unspoken

They rest for a long time, after all words are said and all tears are cried. There is nothing left to say, to do. And she should untangle herself. Should rise, wipe off her tears. And put on a mask, pretend that it will be okay. She has practiced that skill, many times. What is one more time.

“I need to go.”

“If you leave first, we cannot leave you.”

No one else you love can. She resents him, sometimes. The way he knows her, but his fingers are gentle, still stroking her hair.

“I will miss you.”

A lot.

[syb5-blog]

Circular

It will happen. It must happen. It already has happened. And it will happen again. They have to steal Babylon 4. He has to take it to the past. Give up everything about his old life to begin a new life on a world where his destiny is already written.

There were others with similar impact. If Michael Jankowsk had not ordered to fire, if David McIntyre had refused to obey his orders…  if the Grey Council had not declared War… the Babylon stations might never have been build. And the universe would be hopelessly outnumbered in the Shadow Wars.

[syb5-blog]

Goodbye

He suggests a cup of tea. Not even booze or anything. Just tea. And diaries. And a pit in her stomach when she knows what they need to discuss. She has had this talk before. More than once. And while it is hardly his fault that the Minbari chose him…

“I will need you to guard the station and wrangle the diplomats,” he smiles weakly. “I know you can do that, but I hoped to stick around until my replacement arrives.”

She nods. What else is there to do? He will leave as everyone else does. Nothing could change that.

[syb5-blog]

Anniversary

“We received an invitation to a party, Ambassador.” Lennier’s eyes are cast to the floor. “The humans wish to celebrate the anniversary of our surrender.”

“You disapprove.”

“I will attend if you wish for me to escort you.”

“That you will,” she rests gentle fingers beneath his chin, “Lennier, they wish to celebrate their people’s survival, not our people’s shame.”

“Do you want me to select gifts appropriate to the occasion?”

“Yes, and it is time to ask the seamstresses to meet us. We should show how much we appreciate their gesture of reconciliation.”

He bows, avoiding her eyes again.

[b5drabbleproject]

Babylon 5 Drabble Project Prompts for 3/29/19

Sorry I forgot to post this list last night - I was FaceTiming my mom in preparation for the model horse show next weekend and forgot.  ><  Thank you to everyone who continues to send in drabbles, and I’m excited to see what you have in store this time.  As always, feel free to send drabbles for any prompt, either past or present.

For those of you who are new to the project:

How It Works: Every  other Friday (don’t hold me to this, please, but I’m going to try my   best), I’ll post a list of five prompts (most of which have been sent in  by you guys!) to write drabbles on.  A drabble is exactly 100 words.   Not 99, not 101.  100 on the dot.  You may write on one prompt, all   five prompts, or any number in between.  You may also write as many drabbles as you want on a particular prompt.  While I am asking for fics of 100 words for this challenge, if inspiration strikes you with a   particular prompt, I won’t be offended if you take it and run with it.

In  order to have your drabble posted to the blog, please MESSAGE ME WITH A  LINK TO THE DRABBLE ONCE IT’S POSTED ON YOUR ACCOUNT!  I’ll then reblog  it to this blog, which serves as a place to keep our drabble collection.

Drabbles are to be Babylon 5 related.  Obviously.

The Rules:
 -Rule  #1: BE NICE. No pooping in other people’s Fruit Loops. If somebody   wants to write about two characters smooching who you don’t think should  be smooching, that doesn’t give you the right to be mean to that person  or make negative comments about their work or views.   People work  really hard on their writing, even when it’s only 100 words, so keep  your comments NICE.  Be nice to all participants, be nice to yourself,  just basically be nice to everyone.  (Exception: you don’t necessarily  have to be nice to the characters.  Because if y’all have ever read my  fanfictions, you know just how much I looooooove to be mean to the B5  characters…one in particular…) -Rule #2: No NSFW. Mainly, I really  don’t want to read about nekkid Minbari or Vir’s tentacle dicks (can I  get off this example train now?  I regret so many things) or anything of  that nature.  If you are unhappy with this, feel free to start your own  B5 NSFW drabble collective.  No judgement. Just here is not the place. -Rule #3: Tag your triggers.  (Basically, see Rule #1.) *Also,  please leave (positive) feedback for other people’s drabbles -   sometimes a little nice comment can make all the difference! *And,   please message me with prompt ideas!  We ALWAYS need more prompts!  You might not see your idea immediately, but it WILL come around. Please contact this blog or me personally (Mod @traveller19) with any questions.

Here  is the prompt list for 3/29/19!  The official writing period for these  will end on 4/12/19, although you’re always welcome to write on and submit  for previous prompts.

Prompts:

1. Party

2. Tea

3. Orange (from sysanya’s alphabetical prompt list)

4. Pivotal (from sysanya’s alphabetical prompt list)

5. Cuddle

Thank you guys so much!  :D :D :D  Also please reblog this post so #b5drabbleproject gets more visibility!

Have fun!!!

-Mod Traveller

[droidmom]

Prompt: Mistake

For the B5 Drabble Project.

I’m really happy this was a prompt because I think about Lyta’s “One mistake. One mistake out of so many, so many others…” line in Thirdspace every single day of my life. 

The Vorlons made mistakes. They weren’t perfect, benevolent, all-knowing. They were human, messy and flawed, but so giant they appeared as gods. It’d made her feel special, worthy, until unlocked programming sliced open a million sacks of grainy secrets still spilling into her mind.

Mistake: tampering with the lesser races.

Mistake: pretending a lesser race was ever more than a lab-rat, specimen, vessel. 

Mistake: abandoning this vessel in the wreckage of their pride. 

They wouldn’t consider that a mistake, though. No, they were perfectly fine leaving. She swallowed as her fingertips hovered over hidden gills. Maybe the mistake was her.