the delphic expanse

Welcome to the first word prompt challenge of 2012!!

Here's a run-through of how it works for the new folks: each month, I put up a new prompt -- usually a single word but sometimes a short phrase. If you accept the challenge, your job is to write an Enterprise story based on that prompt. It can be any genre (gen, het, slash), any style (drama, humor, romance, porn bomb, whatever grills your cheese). There are no minimums or maximums on word length. When you're done, get it beta read and then post it in the archive. These don't expire, so if you don't finish on time, no worries...I just give a new prompt every month to keep things moving.

Have you got what it takes?

Your prompt, should you accept it, is...








FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE


Now get out of here and go write something.

Oops! I'll remove it. I'm not really doing any new writing. I think the muse has permanently left this time.

Glory, that's a fine story. Although, the prompt is really to inspire new writing and not for old stuff. Not that we mind getting old stuff in the archive. You're welcome to upload it there as well. But the spirit of the prompt game is new work - so we try and keep to that in the thread.

Yes, I'm late again.

This is Father/Son AU, pre-series. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated:

Archer turned the small velvet box over and over in his hands, wondering where it all went wrong.

It had been raining that evening. Jon had purchased the ring, and then headed straight to Margaret’s apartment. As soon as she opened the door, he got down on one knee, and asked her to marry him.

Her eyes filling with tears, she said, “no.”

Jon was stunned. “Why?”

She said something about not wanting to be a ‘Starfleet Widow’.

That threw him for a loop. “You knew I was planning to join Starfleet after graduation!”

“Jon, please—“

“What’s changed?” He asked, feeling hurt and confused.

She refused to meet his eyes. Jon felt a chill that had nothing to do with the rain.

“This isn’t about Starfleet, is it?”

Somewhere along the way, there had been a breakdown in communication. Jon admitted to himself that he was mostly to blame. He’d pretty much ignored Margaret’s objections, figuring she would come around eventually.

With a sigh, he tossed the box in his desk drawer, shutting it harder than necessary.

“Daddy?”

Jon looked down to see Trip staring up at him. Jon smiled, hoping Trip wouldn’t notice his dark mood.

“Hey, Trip, what are you doing out of bed?” He asked as he picked him up.

“Can’t sleep,” he murmured, snuggling against Jon’s chest. “You okay, Daddy?”

Jon swallowed hard. Trip was more perceptive than he realized.

“I’m fine,” he replied, giving his son a gentle squeeze.

At least, he would be.

I'll just say....

I don't see anything wrong with this...




I sooooooooo love your father/son series, Hummingbird! I was just thinking the other day how much I would love to read another instalment, and you've written an fabulously touching one! Thank you!

That is wonderful, hummingbird. The fact that Jon loved Trip enough to adopt him even though his girlfriend did not approve is so touching. It puts a whole new spin on why Margaret refused him! You are doing a great job with these father/son stories. I am enjoying them very much and hope for many more to come.

By the way, the last bit with Trip brought me to tears!

Thank you very much, Pauline and bluetiger! That's very kind of you to say.

Humming I like your new story. It's nice to see anew story challenge being posted.

Wow. So intense. So beautiful.

Thank you, Reanok and Artisticmom2!