Empty Theater

This little scene was inspired both by a photo prompt from the WriYe DreamWidth and my own experience in watching how “interviews” are conducted where I work.  One of the things the interview committee always asks of the candidates is that they give a presentation that is open to all the employees.

**

Jakob stood at the back of the theater and looked down at the rows of empty seats.  He bit his lip as he struggled to get control of his breathing and calm his racing heart.

In just a few hours, he’d have to give his presentation to the staff of the National Museum and Archives.  The members of the interview committee would be there.  That much was a given.  However, he was well aware that the invitation was an open one.  How many other people would attend?  Would the room be filled to brimming or would it just be a small handful of people?  Either way, the idea terrified him.

A light touch on the small of his back set his heart racing once again.  He glanced over his shoulder to see Stephen there and grimaced.  “I’m nervous,” he admitted, his voice faint.

“You know your stuff,” Stephen said, his voice soft.  “You’ll do just fine with the presentation and then… it’s out of your hands.  They’ve got four other candidates for the position, besides you.”

Jakob nodded slowly.  Stephen was right.  He was well prepared and he just had to give his presentation.  Even if the only people that came were the members of the interview committee, it wouldn’t matter.  Even if every seat was filled, it would be the same.  Either way, he’d pretend the room was just as it was now: empty, except for him and Stephen.  “Thank you,” he murmured.

“Anytime,” Stephen said, his voice soft.

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Being a good man

This is a little scene inspired by a word prompt (the phrase I used as the title) from the WriYe DreamWidth.

**

Jakob couldn’t help but smile as he watched Gregory playing with Trudy.  He was kneeling in the grass, with his hands over his eyes and counting softly and slowly.  The little girl – his little girl – was trying to find a place to hide, giggling the whole time.

After he’d reached ten, Gregory uncovered his eyes.  He flashed a smile at Jakob and then moved to his feet.  “Hmm,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mirth.  “I wonder where Trudy is.”  His words were answered by a giggle from the child that told them exactly where she’d hidden.  Gregory pretended not to hear, though.

Instead, he began searching everywhere he possibly could – even places that the little girl couldn’t possibly be.  Staring into the branches of a tall oak, Gregory said, “I guess I can’t find her.”

“Here, Daddy,” Trudy said, peering out from behind Jakob, where she’d been the entire time.

As Jakob chuckled, Gregory smiled.  Meeting Jakob’s eyes, he said, “The one place I didn’t think to look, of course.”

“Of course,” Jakob said.  He smiled warmly as Trudy ran to her father’s arms and he lifted her into an embrace.  Against all odds and in spite of what everyone thought, Gregory was a very good father – a very good man.

Listen to the Music

This is a little scene that was inspired by a picture prompt from the WriYe DreamWidth.

**

It had been hard, at first, to accept that he wouldn’t be working with Gregory anymore.  Ever since he’d been elevated to the position of Director of Collections, Gregory had been a fixture.  If he needed something brought over from one of their storage warehouses, he went to Gregory.  If he needed to arrange special security for an artifact, he went to Gregory.  Now, he was forced to turn to others.  They were just as skilled, but he didn’t know them.

However, there were benefits to the new arrangement as well.  When they’d been co-workers, they’d felt the need to be careful regarding their relationship.  No one at the museum knew that Gregory was, essentially, his brother.  Now, there was no reason to hide the facts.

Jakob glanced over at Trudy and chuckled softly.  She was sitting with a book in her lap.  The stuffed bear was nestled beside her on the couch.  The headphones from Jakob’s portable radio were settled on its head.

“Trudy,” Jakob said, grinning.  When the little girl looked up from her book, he waved at the bear.  “What’s that about?”

“He didn’t want to read with me,” Trudy said, shrugging.  “He’s listening to your player, instead.”

“Is he enjoying the music?” Jakob said, arching an eyebrow.

Trudy frowned and looked at the bear.  Then, grinning, she turned back to Jakob and nodded.  “Very much,” she said, giggling.  “Thank you, Uncle Koby!”

“You’re quite welcome, Trudy,” Jakob said, giving her a sunny smile.  Chuckling to himself, he turned back to his own work.  Yes, he could deal with changes at the museum, if it meant that he could look after Trudy and be “Uncle Koby” for the little girl.

Boys will be boys

This little scene was inspired by a phrase prompt from the WriYe DreamWidth.  It’s set when Jakob is still just eight years old.  Nelly is his twin sister.  Gregory is their adopted brother. Elijah is the younger brother.

**

Nelly frowned at Gregory, Elijah and Jakob.  They were running around crazily.  She wanted for Jakob and Gregory to come and play dolls with her, but both of them refused.  They preferred, instead, to play tag with their younger brother, Elijah.

“Why aren’t you playing, Nelly?” Mother asked, leaning close to look into her eyes.  “Don’t you like to play tag?”

“I want to play dolls,” Nelly pouted, hugging Patrice close.  Patrice was her favorite doll, since it had been the last thing her father had given her.  “Gregory and Jakob won’t play with me.”

“Perhaps,” Mother said, “if you play tag with them, they’ll play dolls with you later.”

“I ain’t playing dolls,” Gregory called, skidding to a stop.  He sighed when Jakob tagged him and ran away with a laugh.  Gregory sighed when Mother gave him a significant look.  “Why can’t she play dolls with Adeline?”

“Addie’s four is why,” Nelly said, stamping her foot.  “I’m eight already.  I can’t play with a four year old!”

Jakob heaved a sigh and then nodded.  “All right,” he said.  “After we have lunch, we’ll play dolls with you, Nelly.  For now, though, you can play tag with us.”

Mother nodded when Nelly smiled.  As soon as Mother had headed back inside, Gregory added, “Newcomers are cucumbers, though.  So… you’re it!”  Then he spun and ran away from her.

Nelly’s face flushed a brilliant scarlet.  She set Patrice gently on the bottom step and took off after Gregory.  “You – you boy!” she shouted, trying to the think of the worst possible thing to call him.

New-built City

This little scene was inspired by a word prompt at the WriYe DreamWidth (the title). It’s set on New Year’s Day…

**

Jakob leaned against the window and stared out at the city.  It was the start of a new year and everything seemed, somehow, to be fresh and clean.  It was as if, with the coming of the new year, the city was built up new once again.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Stephen asked, his voice soft, “You’re wearing such a thoughtful expression.”

“It’s a beautiful sight,” Jakob said, nodding towards the twinkling lights of the city they called home.  “Somehow, with the starting of the year, it’s like everything else is new again.”

Stephen chuckled softly and nodded.  “I know what you mean,” he said, his voice soft.

A Home

This scene was inspired by a picture prompt that was posted at the WriYe DreamWidth.  It’s another story in my National Museum and Archives universe.  Jakob, as I’ve already said, is in charge of museum collections.  Stephen is in charge of the archives.  They both have apprentices in magic, who live with them and… they are a couple.

**

Jakob stood at the base of the steps and stared up at the house.  He could hardly believe that this large, beautiful home was theirs.

He knew it wasn’t perfect.  There was work that needed doing.  The stone railing at the front was half-broken.  The lawn was a mess.  The side porch was in definite need of work, since it was in the process of being repaired.

Still, somehow, it was their home and that made it beautiful.  He glanced over his shoulder at Stephen and heaved a sigh.  “We’re home,” he said, his voice soft.

Stephen took Jakob’s hand in his own and nodded.  “Yes,” he said, “We are.”  He laughed when Reinhold and Hannah ran past them and up the ragged walkway to the front door.

“We’d better get inside,” Jakob said, tugging Stephen up the steps and towards the house.  It would mean a lot of work, but they had a home of their own – not a townhouse in the city that was shared with another family, but a real house of their own.

What an Odd Thing

This month has been so crazy for me that I haven’t been keeping up with my writing blog the way I’d have hoped. However, I’m mostly caught up now, so I can at least begin posting everything I’ve written.

This first piece was inspired by a picture prompt from the WriYe DreamWidth. It’s set in my National Museum and Archives Universe – the National Museum and Archives is a repository of magical books and artifacts. Jakob is in charge of collections, while Kasper is in charge of research.

**

“What is that?” Jakob asked.

Kasper looked up from the tiny thing he had constructed. He smiled and held it up on one finger. “It’s a little butterfly,” he said. Chuckling, he added, “Sort of.”

Jakob stepped closer to the worktable. The tiny thing looked delicate. It had miniature gears and pins. It looked, to him, exactly like a tiny fairy with butterfly wings.

“What are you going to do with that?” Jakob said, shaking his head.

Kasper grinned and shrugged. “I think we can use magic to animate it,” he said, his eyes twinkling with glee. “Then, it can carry messages for us.”

Jakob shook his head and chuckled softly. “Do you think that such a tiny thing will be able to carry anything?”

“Why not?” Kasper asked, grinning.