Is that...is that Spam I smell?

[feldman]

Nah...can't be.

I mean, I'm in town, it's the middle of the week, whyfore would there be spam?

Must be the drugs.

Bloody vikings.

Comments

[ch1pper.livejournal.com]

hee! Now I'm thinking of Monty Python.

[kernezelda]

The sky's green, and the sun is white, fading to yellow and blue as it sinks over the horizon. The locals are celebrating, and as near as John can tell, it's early July on Earth.

Aeryn agreed to come with him, has their daughter in a backpack with a cool sunshield D'Argo bargained from the last planet they visited. Mara's giggling like a giggling thing.

Even Aeryn's loosed that rare full grin, her hair's loose braid flopping lightly against her chest where the baby can't grab it.

"Look at this, would ya?" John slaps down a wad of the local cash onto the wooden counter, and the pinky-purple alien vendor smiles and bows. She hands over a handful of sparklers and what looke like matches. He can smell the sulphur. Smells like Fourth of July.

"You wanna set off some explosions?" John turns to his wife, reaches out and ruffles Mara's curls where she's twisting around to see him. "Baby-sized fireworks." His girls are gorgeous and the day is fading into twilight.

A burst of sound and light. Aeyrn flinches, but John's hand on her arm steadies her. The next rockets, they see the source, a group of kids crouching down in the side-street park alongside the market.

John holds up the sparklers. Aeryn finally nods.

And they head toward the park.

[simplystars.livejournal.com]

Aeryn scans the park before choosing a secluded spot that offers a dappled mix of sun and shade beneath leafy trees. John spreads a blanket and Aeryn releases Mara from the confines of her carry-pack.

The baby lies on her back, kicking and cooing, as John sets up a few of the 'fireworks' a safe distance away. When everything is ready, Aeryn sets the baby on her lap, safe in the circle of her arms.

"Fire in the hole," John grins, and lights the first sparkler.

[kernezelda]

The coated wire flares up, sparks flying in a broad sphere. John turns so Aeryn and Mara can see the sparkler. They're not alone. Several groups are filtering into the park with plastic-wrapped packages.

The sun's almost gone now. Lights snap on, metal poles supporting square glass cases around the perimeter of the park. A sodium-yellow glow penetrates a few motras within.

John turns in a circle, waves the sparkler in pink and gold streamers, then carefully reaches down for the next as the first begins to sputter. Mara's eyes are wide as saucers, Aeryn's pale arms wrapped around her child. John wishes for a camera. The second sparkler catches and flares into a blue aureole around its rod, and Aeryn rests her chin on Mara's head.

Her smile is soft, Mara's is wide and barely-toothed, and John wouldn't give this moment up for any warm night in July on Earth.

[simplystars.livejournal.com]

The baby strains toward her father, chubby arms outstretched, and Aeryn finally gives in. She sets Mara down on hands and knees and she's off like a shot toward John and the multicolored sparkler...but Aeryn's got her fingers hooked in the baby's waistband, and reels her in before she comes too close to the sparks.

Mara's high, squealing laugh peals out and John's answering grin touches something deep inside Aeryn. They've been through so much. Now, to finally experience a peaceful day planetside, in safety and joy--Aeryn feels a surge of gratitude for the same Fate that at one time had seemed to be nothing but the Enemy.

John carefully puts the extinguished sparkler down and sweeps the baby up in his arms, blowing kisses against her exposed stomach. His face is flushed when he meets Aeryn's amused smile, and he tucks Mara against his hip before he bends down and tosses a sparkler to Aeryn.

"Try it," he encourages. "You might like it." And he plants a kiss against Mara's forehead as two pairs of blue eyes entreat her to participate in the pyrotechnics.

[kernezelda]

Aeryn gives the sparkler a long look, and then decisively takes the matchbox from John's hand. She lights it, applies the flame, and stretches out her arms as the coating catches. Sparks whiz through the air.

She makes a loop with the sparkler, an oval that leaves a dark aftertrail in John's vision, and then she's weaving a pattern, a line and a curve, a thrust and a long streamer.

It's her name in lights, and John grins as loopily as her circles to see it. He's done the same thing, years ago when he was a kid, when he was in high school, the thrill of fireworks never lost.

He holds their child close to his heart and plants a kiss on her forehead. The sparkler slowly flickers out. Aeryn turns toward them, her expression of close concentration transmuting into simple happiness.

It's an almost unknown thing.

John reaches out and she lets him pull her close, dropping his arm around her shoulders, dipping his head to brush his cheek against her hair.

They can settle on the grass for a while, watch the show. They have time.

[rubberneck.livejournal.com]

Where're my dingoes at?!?

Heeeeere doggydoggydoggydoggy...heeeeeeere doggydoggydoggy...

Seriously, you guys are so nice to me. And the spam does make me feel oddly better 8 )

[unwritten-words.livejournal.com]

I walked into a comment and fic broke out. Very cool. :)

[simplystars.livejournal.com]

It's been known to happen from time to time (http://www.livejournal.com/users/thassalia/127397.html?thread=1308581#t1308581). Especially when Kerne and I are loopy and sleep-deprived. *g*

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

...And Stars and Kerne looked at what they had done and knew that it was A Good Thing...