Date: 21 Jul 1999 18:53:23 GMT Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Title: Ash Author: Alias Classification: V with a bit of A and R thrown in. Spoilers: None, but this has a definite Season2!Mulder vibe. Summary: A Meeting. First in a series. (Maybe.) Disclaimer: No one is mentioned by name, so... no disclaimer here. (Ha ha, FOX! Take that!) Distribution: Yes to Gossamer and Ephemeral. All others please ask me first. Feedback: I would appreciate feedback in any shape or form at Sally700@aol.com (And if anyone out there recognizes the addy, yes, it is just little ol' me tacking an "as" onto my name. So there. :P) Dedication: To luvmulder, for being the Obi-Wan Kenobi to my whiny Luke Skywalker. And many thanks to Amanda, beta reader extraordinaire! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Ash" by Alias sally700@aol.com June, 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I lean out past the railing, looking not out toward the falling, falling last glimpse of sun, in favor of the nebulous depths of the ocean below. It is calling to me, the ripples. Lapping against the side of the cruiser in noisy motions, the water somehow knows my secrets. In defiance, I tip ash from a smoldering, stale cigarette into the spectatoring waves. Taking one last look at them, I resist the urge to spit, before turning back to acknowledge the willow man who managed to follow me aboard. Alright. Time to play tall, dark, and mysterious. Accepting the dryness that lurks deep in my skin, in my bones, in my heart, my teeth grit behind smooth lipstick, but I still dare not look at the purity in his gray eyes. His eyes could be the Death of me. "Come a long way, Mr. Mulder. Out here to enjoy the view?" His voice. It's low and quiet, rumbling from the depths of the very southern tip of his soul. With this voice he does not comfort or caress. It is biting, accusing, and full of venom. He pauses, then spits out what I know he has come for. "Tell me where she is." He doesn't have to say who. My face remains calm as milk, but inwardly I am a mass of quivering indecision. The Truth is, the Truth is, I haven't gotten to this wretched, hellhole of a place in life by being Ms. Congeniality. But looking out to this man consumed by fitful energy is cause for second thoughts. Fuck. It had to be him, of all the nosy, driven, half-crazy believers in the world. It had to be him to follow me. Look at that face -- eyes droop from lack of sleep without losing their intensity, stubble grazes the firmly set cheeks, fleshy lips are pressed together in a slight pout. More than just appearances, though, it's the turbulence from within that pulls with magnet strength. One glimpse of the rawness in those eyes and thirty years of self- preservation, shadows, and lies fall to his mercy. I resign myself to the fact that I may not see another dusk again, because of him. I try to take in a last lungful of ocean salt air; the cigarette smoke makes me gag slightly instead. Flicking its source over the rail gives me a smudge of satisfaction. Well. If that's the way it's going to be, might as well have a little fun before I go. I raise up my sight to face him full force, jutting out my chin. Will alone keeps me from fleeing. I notice he's trembling visibly, as if trying hard not to give in and shove me over the railing to a waterlogged grave. Albeit one I deserve. "You want to know, do you?" I tip the corner of a lip up into what could be called a smirk. "My, my. She could be halfway around the world, test subject for one of our government's endless facilities. Or she could be right next door." His fist flexes by his side, perhaps imagining itself around my neck. I advance a step closer and bring up my hand, moving a well-manicured finger to stroke the bristle of his cheek. I'll give him credit; he doesn't flinch. The hand moves past his neck, lower, to finger the silk of a garish, but clearly expensive, tie. "That's what hurts most of all, doesn't it? Not knowing, unsuspecting, she's within arms reach." I take a step further, leaning over him to pause before his delicate ear. I draw out a murmur: "What hurts is, even with that knowledge, you're still helpless. You're lost without me, my dear." At these words he backs out of my grasp, only to find the ship's side blocking a clean escape. He leans against it, wrapping long fingers around the cool metal rail. Having gotten his bearings, I can almost pinpoint the exact moment when the caged man turns offensive. Dull embers are suddenly flaring hot in his gaze, and I know one more word game would push him over the edge. "Maybe I wasn't clear the first time: Tell. Me. Where. She. Is." I pause, unsure of what course of action would be proper. I rely on the china mask of my face to not betray my uncertainty. He does not know me, really. He knows I am a black figure, representing the irrepressible Them. He knows that I've deceived him. He knows that I'm responsible for at least a dozen lives. Well. So. What he doesn't know is Why. (There is a Why, you know.) He takes a step forward, closer. I can practically hear confidence in the clicks of his heels. And I crumble. Like red clay, I crumble. "Philadelphia," I breathe. After a slow moment, I glance up to see his back swiftly walking away. A hand reaches into a pocket for the ever-present cell phone. And then he is gone. end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Author's Notes: This was my very first completed and posted fic. I'm nervous as hell about this "sharing" thing, so please drop me a line. If only to say, "You didn't screw up TOO badly," or even, "Never ever write anything again! Diiiiiiieeeeeeee!" The original plan here was to create a series of stories from the POV of this character - having her relate to different people in the XF realm, and eventually offering up more about Ms. Congeniality herself. I'd love to know if you think it's working or not. Sally700@aol.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Sunflower seeds for all! C> C> C> Fox William Mulder on the Web (FWMW) http://members.aol.com/Sally700/fwmw.html * * * There's only us There's only this Forget regret Or life is yours to miss!