Scribble: I need to see if the SCP Foundation has a record on this guy.

      Static echoed from the rusted box, its drooping antenna nothing more than wire and peeling tape. Upon its face, the ghost of some knob or another lingered over a jagged metal prong, as rust drifted in and out of the solitary speaker. Nearby stood an unadorned table, its legs buckling under its own weight, blanketed by dust and the greasy mold starting to form upon its surface. Only a single chair, itself nothing more than bound twigs and damp, oozing glue, remained for use; no trace of what other furniture there might have been remained.
      From behind an unseen door emerged a single, lithe figure, a white paper mask obscuring all the features of its face. Walking in erratic movements to the radio, the shadow paused, slowly jerking its bank visage around as though aware of being watched. Without another moment's hesitation, the specter threw an arm across the room, reaching farther than any human arm could, the sounds of breaking bones and torn sinews barely audible above the din. Flicking the skeleton of some radio dial, the static soon became overpowering, as the pale mask turned around, again and again, as each crick of sundered bone still lingered.
      A sudden stillness overtook the shadow, its arm back to the way it had been, the twitching motions now calmed. In but a moment, a small line formed upon the mask, growing wider and larger, the figure's head convulsing with each inch. Jagged teeth, grinning, with no eyes or nose or ears to accompany it, ripped across its face, as the static gave way to the sound of aggravated breathing. Even without sight, it turned to face its unseen audience, as the very neck of the shade started to snake and twist from the body, oozing like a fleshy, bleeding worm culled from a sore...
      "And that's when we stopped the tape," the agent added, breathing heavily.
      "Reason?" demanded the faceless monolith before him.
      "Because that's when it reached through the television screen," he blurted out, starting to tremble before adding, "sir."

Scribble: Unfunny jokes.

A horse walks into a bar. The barkeep asks, "why the long face?" The horse says nothing, as it is a figment of the barkeep's imagination. One patron turns to another and whispers, "he hasn't been the same since his wife died." The other patron solemnly nods in agreement.

* * * * *

A rabbi, a priest, and an imam walk into a bar. The barkeep says, "what is this, some kind of joke?" The priest, upon catching sight of the barkeep, immediately turns to leave, rushing out of the bar. Before the imam can ask, the barkeep begrudgingly says, "she left me standing at the altar." The rabbi stands still, overtaken by the awkward silence.

* * * * *

A blonde and a brunette walk into a bar. The brunette orders a 7 & 7 without delay. The barkeep asks the blonde for her order. "None for me," she replies sadly, after a few moment's hesitation. "Are you sure?" asks the barkeep, noticing her seeming embarrassment. "Yes," she replies softly, before taking her leave from her friend and leaves the bar.

She passes by a tiny cemetery on the walk room, and struggles to slide between the old iron gates. After walking for a few minutes in the chill autumn air, she stops before a small gravestone, falling to her knees.

"I'm sorry, son," she chokes between sobs, clutching the piece of granite. "I couldn't keep you safe..."

From atop the marker, a dented toy car falls onto the frosty ground.

Scribble: I think I miss spring.

      Shyly she stood, as nearby the midday sun dancing atop the rippling waters. Twirling and playing with the folds of her dress, a slight blush came upon her face at the thought of someone seeing her. Silly girl, she chided, her smile briefly fading, you're in a clearing in the middle of the woods. With an embarrassed sigh, her eyes turned toward the sky once more, the endless blue captured perfectly in her irises.
      Fluttering from far above, a single white butterfly drifted to the secret dancer's outstretched fingers, as the girl gently drew her hand close. "Is it you?" she asked, the pounding of her heart ringing in her ears.
      Before another word could pass her lips, a cloud of white fell gracefully from above, a thousand tiny wings fluttering away. Laughing as she twirled, the dancer let the creatures surround her in a graceful display, reaching her bare arms out for an embrace. Within but a moment, she stood completely encircled, invisible to the outside world.
      And in but another, a flash of white filled the air, as the dancer stood, with a small waif in her arms, clad in the most elegant of dresses.
      "Indeed it is," whispered the smaller of the girls, smiling just as brightly as her companion, "for as the season comes, so, too, do I..."

Scribble: Scene from a future project?

      A candle's fickle flame danced upon the wick, as she looked across the tiny attic once more. Having slipped away from her companions as they slept, the waif couldn't help but smile at her new-found privacy, suppressing an anxious giggle in an effort not to wake them. Trying to brush away long silver locks, her fingertips graced the ornate leather patch where her left eye once had been, and the tender care someone had taken to ease the loss with beauty.
      Another gift, thought the waif, her single eye welling-up with a tear. One you promised you'd take back someday, if only to give me another. But that's not why I'm here...
      With a wistful sigh, she quickly unfastened the fabric above her breast, just enough to reveal a small, metal chamber where her heart might've been. Cautiously, her slender fingers tapped a gentle rhythm, as the circular seal shifted away, revealing but an elaborate series of gears and springs, roughly in the shape of a heart.
      Gently reaching inside, her fingers found a small locket, fitting in place with its surroundings almost perfectly, despite its peculiar shape. Staring longingly at the little rabbit of brass, the waif released yet another sigh, before folding the trinket into her pale, soft hands.
      Thank you, she thought, the faint clicking of her inner mechanisms sounding almost like a song. May we meet again so very soon...

Scribble: What's this? Continuity?

      Mechanical eyes gazed out over the horizon, the lonesome figure standing perfectly still atop a jagged, frail cliff. A fierce wind threatened to rip away the observer's tattered cloak and scarf, holding back only for the great hammer clutched within its brass and copper fist. Paying the interloper no mind, the figure continued to survey the bleak landscape below, punctuated only with earthen spires and the ghosts of mountains long past.
      No life remains, it thought, bowing its heavy, round head in concentration. No . . . life never took roost here, beyond the beast...
      Memories of a single red orb flashed across its mind, the hideous creaks of ancient joints ringing in the air. Returning to the present with a shake of its head, the figure stood in silence for but a moment, before nodding to no one.
      Then this will be our new forge, it thought, turning to the narrow, rocky path leading to the valley below. With heavy steps, the observer began its long descent, wielding the mighty hammer as a staff with each step. Catching the faintest hint of birdsong in the air, it paused, its metal body heaving something like a sigh beneath the rags.
      And perhaps, it thought again, pausing to turn its eyes skyward, life will soon follow.

Scribble: Waiting for the L...

...a new approach...

Flash Fiction: High Above the Clouds

      She glides along the dance floor, floating far above the myriad patterns of light with each sweeping movement. Flirtatious toes kissed the ground, playfully avoiding any deeper commitment to gravity, staying aloft on unseen music and a beaming smile. With each pounding beat, her untamed hands discovered new shapes drifting in the air, as her heart eagerly explored each new rhythm.
      Adrift on sweet melody, the sylph could only fly, bright eyes shining like stars in the flashing lights. Not even when toes kissed the shallowest of water would she stop, her body losing all inhibitions and soaring across the dance floor...
      ...right into his waiting, warm arms, and his familiar chuckle just waiting to tickle her ears.

Scribble: This is how I've been feeling lately.

      His eyes nervously scanned his surroundings, methodically looking in every direction that wasn't obscured by trees. Finding no others nearby, he released a brief sigh, a single gust of steam quietly whistling into the chill autumn air. He was alone; of this, there was no doubt.
      Looking up at his evergreen audience, the lines of his face crinkled in resignation. Carefully undoing the buttons of his long overcoat, he could hear the constant clicking in his ears grow louder. Did it always used to be like this? he asked himself, his expression betraying no despair or longing.
      Another set of buttons awaited his fingertips, his digits mechanically undoing each and every clasp with the greatest of speed. Without looking, his hand strayed to his exposed chest, reaching out of instinct.
      A mass of gears and springs came out, lazily winding-down, leaving a cold, deep hole where his heart should be.
      Did it always used to be like this?

Scribble: I couldn't figure out what he's applying to do.

      Birdsong drifted above the glistening waters, tickling the swimmers' ears as they laid upon the warm sand. Quietly they listened, their bare skin waiting for the sunlight to sate its thirst, as a stray thought floated over to the pile of neatly-folded shirts and jeans nearby. Sharing a towel and a smile with his companion, the taller of the two remained propped on his elbow, as emerald orbs gazed into the azure waters hidden beneath the other swimmer's eyes.
      "You're doing it again," the shorter said with a half-chuckle, hands folded neatly upon his flat stomach.
      "Doing what, pray tell?" said the first, his innocent tone doing little to obscure the grin upon his face.
      With a sigh, the shorter sat-up, using a hand to brush away stray granules of sand in his blond hair. "Oh, nothing, Lev," came the exasperated, yet willingly so, reply, "just making it painfully obvious that you're waiting for me to say something." With another half-chuckle, he added, "ass."
      Falling onto his back, the taller heaved a sigh of his own, comically raising a wrist to his forehead. "Oh, how quickly he hath discovered my ruse," he said with mock despair, trying to keep his grin at bay. "And it only took him this long to put the pieces together! Such admirable detective skills haven't been seen since Ryan discovered someone's secret affections for him!"
      A playful laugh soon followed, only to be left alone to linger in the air. The clever grin falling from his face, Lev looked over at the slender swimmer beside him, only to find him turned toward the water.
      "I'm sorry," he said, placing a hand gently upon his companion's shoulder. "I forgot about . . . you know."
      With another heaving sigh, a smaller, slender hand fell atop Lev's own. "It's okay," he replied, turning to face his companion with a smile upon his face, "I mean, I know you didn't mean that, just . . . couldn't help thinking about it, is all."
      For a brief moment, not even birdsong could be heard, as the gentle lapping of the waves roared like thunder. Without a sound, a pair of strong, inviting arms wrapped around the sullen swimmer's body, as a chin tenderly fell upon his shoulder.
      "Next year," came a soothing whisper, "you'll try again, and you'll make it. And just to be sure, promise me one little thing, and I'll do everything in my power to help."
      "What's that?" Ryan asked, awkwardly leaning into his companion's embrace.
      "Take me with you," came the mischievous reply, the grin glowing so brightly upon Lev's face that even the sunlight felt threatened by it. "And don't you dare try to slip away, either. We both know who's the strongest!"
      Squeezing his smaller companion tightly, Lev let loose a pathetic roar, soon joined by Ryan's stifled laughter. "Damn you!" Ryan cried out, playfully struggling in his companion's embrace, before giving-in entirely, nuzzling into a heaving, almost purring chest.
      "Will you, though?" Lev asked, running a hand through sandy blond locks. "Take me with you, I mean..."
      Without a word, the smaller gave a tender smile, before gently pressing his lips to his lover's own. "Of course," Ryan whispered, gazing into verdant fields, "after all, I might need help in honing my detective skills . . . ass."

Scribble: Once again, turning video game music into an excuse for sap.

      She smiled that usual smile, the one reserved only for a single someone, as she nuzzled deeper into an all-too-inviting coat. Swaying with each jerk of the train, the would-be dreamer slid an arm tightly around her lover's sleeve, trying to steady herself with minimal effort. Without a word, a slender hand soon fell atop her own, as her lover's face rested atop her head, her long, brown locks tickling her exposed cheek.
      “I'm not a pillow,” the would-be dreamer mumbled, the words slipping between consciousness and slumber.
      “Says the girl currently using my chest for the same thing,” came the playfully tired reply, as a laugh drifted slowly into the air.
      “You're lucky you're cute,” came another mumble, as the sleepyhead nuzzled deeper into the coat's soft, warm fabric, giving the sleeve another gentle tug.
      The ringing of the train kept silence from creeping in, as the only pair of open eyes stared beyond the scratched and weathered glass. Moments passed, as the sounds of the train soon faded away, emerging from the tunnel and into the clear, starry night.
      With a sigh, she gave the sleepyhead's little hand a squeeze, a bright smile beaming upon her tired face. “You're missing a beautiful night,” she teased, leaning over to kiss the dreamer's silver locks, open eyes never drifting from the sea of stars.
      “I beg to differ...” whispered the dreamer, giving her lover's hand a squeeze in return, just as slumber stole her away...

Scribble: Elevator music can be romantic...

      A smile slipped onto her porcelain face, gazing out over the flickering landscape. Just beyond the smooth glass panel, the city lit-up the night sky, a mirror to the countless stars above.
      Gentle laughter drifted into her ears, as a familiar hand slipped onto her shoulder. "Glad you like it," a silken voice whispered, just before a pair of soft, warm lips pressed against her cheek.
      Turning to see the glowing face beside her, the smaller of the two could only nod, a flush coming over her cheeks. "Thanks for showing me," she whispered in return, her slender fingers sliding over her companion's tawny hand. "Still, next time, I'm going to show you what a proper night sky looks like."
      "Oh shush," replied the silken voice, staring into star-filled eyes, as warm lips drew ever so closer together. "Just enjoy the moment for what it is..."
      And somewhere, in another world, a pair of elevator doors opened and closed, a single chime getting lost in the electric symphony just beyond the glass.