Last Lines From 2024
Dec. 31st, 2024 12:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moemachinaI have successfully maintained my resolution to post at least one story a month to AO3 in 2024.
"Never, my love," Rictor says—a lie he has said before, a lie he will say again, a lie he will forget in an hour. "I'll stay with you forever." (The Wriggle of the Worm, January)
It was Celica who looked away first. (Clove Hitch, February)
"You drive a hard bargain, doctor," Sampo said, even though he knew, even as he said it, that it was a price that he was going to pay, repeatedly, in a mode of joyous despair, for as long as he possibly could. "Lucky for you, Sampo Koski never leaves a customer unsatisfied." (This Machine Was Built To Be Broken, February)
Everything went dark and, then in chapter two, That rare, crooked, surprising Howe smile appeared on Nathaniel's face for a moment. "Thank you, Fergus. I'd appreciate it." (A Burned Barn Beneath the Moon, February & March)
"Thank you," Genny said. "I think I will." (Hierogamy, March)
He laughs. "Sure, sure. I promise." (Knee-Deep in Water Under A Pylon, March)
Around them, the sides of the red Jetta pressed close against them, like the sides of a coffin, like the enclosure of an embrace. (Songs For Making Pancakes For Your Siblings, April)
"Oh, don't worry about that. It's good to give the shrine maidens a shock every once in a while," Miko said as she slowly rubbed the heel of her foot against the back of his thigh. "Keeps them on their toes." (The Minor Matter of the Lavender Melons for the Spring Festival, April)
Celes took it. (Subterranean Motivations, May)
Shadow stares at her. In the distance, over the screams of the spectators, he can hear the dog barking ecstatically. (Orpheus in Reverse, June)
"I think," her brother said in his calm and loving voice, "that we should think of him as a natural disaster. An earthquake, say. And you and I are the two lone survivors of that decades-long earthquake..." (A Matching Ragged Edge, July)
"Yes," she said to Erk. "We will not fail." (Euryphaessa, August)
She saw him then. Her expression did not change, but she also lifted her hand in response. They waved at one another across the space that separated them -- strangers no longer -- and Conrad's pace quickened. (A Collapsing Orbit, September)
What horrors this life has, Laura thought as, in the stiff pages before her, Pip met Miss Havisham for the first time -- and as Stephen, next to her, made a noise of mock-surprise over the yellowed pamphlet in his hands. She knew she would see the ghost in the same place tomorrow, if she chose to look for it. She knew that the choice would remain hers to make. What horrors and what blessings. (Coup d'œil, October)
"Can't make no promises," Luke said, his eyes twinkling. "Try and keep an open mind, Rosa. Maybe, with time, it will start to grow on you. All it needs is a little time." (Cherry Blossom Dream Cone With Extra Sprinkles, November)
"No," Sakura said. "There is no point. The monster is already here. The disaster is already upon us. There is no escaping it." She gave a low, wheezing laugh. "All we can do is board up our own windows and prepare to wait out the storm. Come. I must inform the abbess." (Ch. 7 of Trojan Women, December)
[redacted for Yuletide reasons]
In conclusion: I mostly like the work I posted in the first half of the year, and then I fell into The Pit. I'm pretty unjazzed about the second half of the year. Oh well!
"Never, my love," Rictor says—a lie he has said before, a lie he will say again, a lie he will forget in an hour. "I'll stay with you forever." (The Wriggle of the Worm, January)
It was Celica who looked away first. (Clove Hitch, February)
"You drive a hard bargain, doctor," Sampo said, even though he knew, even as he said it, that it was a price that he was going to pay, repeatedly, in a mode of joyous despair, for as long as he possibly could. "Lucky for you, Sampo Koski never leaves a customer unsatisfied." (This Machine Was Built To Be Broken, February)
Everything went dark and, then in chapter two, That rare, crooked, surprising Howe smile appeared on Nathaniel's face for a moment. "Thank you, Fergus. I'd appreciate it." (A Burned Barn Beneath the Moon, February & March)
"Thank you," Genny said. "I think I will." (Hierogamy, March)
He laughs. "Sure, sure. I promise." (Knee-Deep in Water Under A Pylon, March)
Around them, the sides of the red Jetta pressed close against them, like the sides of a coffin, like the enclosure of an embrace. (Songs For Making Pancakes For Your Siblings, April)
"Oh, don't worry about that. It's good to give the shrine maidens a shock every once in a while," Miko said as she slowly rubbed the heel of her foot against the back of his thigh. "Keeps them on their toes." (The Minor Matter of the Lavender Melons for the Spring Festival, April)
Celes took it. (Subterranean Motivations, May)
Shadow stares at her. In the distance, over the screams of the spectators, he can hear the dog barking ecstatically. (Orpheus in Reverse, June)
"I think," her brother said in his calm and loving voice, "that we should think of him as a natural disaster. An earthquake, say. And you and I are the two lone survivors of that decades-long earthquake..." (A Matching Ragged Edge, July)
"Yes," she said to Erk. "We will not fail." (Euryphaessa, August)
She saw him then. Her expression did not change, but she also lifted her hand in response. They waved at one another across the space that separated them -- strangers no longer -- and Conrad's pace quickened. (A Collapsing Orbit, September)
What horrors this life has, Laura thought as, in the stiff pages before her, Pip met Miss Havisham for the first time -- and as Stephen, next to her, made a noise of mock-surprise over the yellowed pamphlet in his hands. She knew she would see the ghost in the same place tomorrow, if she chose to look for it. She knew that the choice would remain hers to make. What horrors and what blessings. (Coup d'œil, October)
"Can't make no promises," Luke said, his eyes twinkling. "Try and keep an open mind, Rosa. Maybe, with time, it will start to grow on you. All it needs is a little time." (Cherry Blossom Dream Cone With Extra Sprinkles, November)
"No," Sakura said. "There is no point. The monster is already here. The disaster is already upon us. There is no escaping it." She gave a low, wheezing laugh. "All we can do is board up our own windows and prepare to wait out the storm. Come. I must inform the abbess." (Ch. 7 of Trojan Women, December)
[redacted for Yuletide reasons]
In conclusion: I mostly like the work I posted in the first half of the year, and then I fell into The Pit. I'm pretty unjazzed about the second half of the year. Oh well!
