Title: Relics (A story in the S.A.T.E.D. universe)
Author: HalfshellVenus
Author's Notes: For alien_writings and the prompt of "Bubbles."

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I'm not saying we play at the dump, exactly—Ma would have my hide for that, with all the filth and germs. But we do poke around there now and then, wondering about the things people throw away.

I found a water-filled container yesterday, with buildings and white flakes inside. I brought it to Ma and asked what it was, and she just stared.

"A snow globe," she finally said.

"But what's in it? A city?"

She nodded. "Paris."

I don't understand why so many things from Before make Ma sad, but it seemed like this was one of them.

"Is Paris real?" I asked.

"Yes—at least, it used to be. Your father and I went there on our honeymoon." She blinked real fast for a bit, then said, "Now go throw that thing away."

I didn't want to—it was pretty and I'd never seen anything like it—but I did what Ma told me to, even if it felt like a mistake.

Ma was quiet the rest of the day, and it seemed like something was wrong but she wouldn't say what.

She seems better today, like she's forgotten whatever was bothering her.

I haven't.

I keep remembering that look on her face when she saw what I had.

I think just maybe that snow globe used to be hers.


--/--

Remembering What To Forget
lj idol season nine | week 18 | 987 words
Disinformation (a story set in the S.A.T.E.D. universe)

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I used to think there was nothing but farms around the outside of town, but I was wrong. Today, I found a whole bunch of big machines out in a field a long way from home. They were mostly buried in the ground, but I guess the rain washed some of the dirt away, so now you can see them.

Ma doesn't want to talk about it. She says I can't tell anybody else, not even my brother Jimmy. I don't see why she's so upset. It wasn't my fault—I found those things by accident!

Me and Bobby Waters were riding a couple of his horses down to the creek, when something happened to mine. I guess she got stung, maybe? Or spooked? Either way, she kind of jumped and then just started running. I was lucky I didn't fall off, but I hung on as hard as I could and after lots and lots of running, she finally stopped. I wasn't sure where we were at first, but I looked in all directions and I finally spotted our town. The church was tiny-tiny from way out there. That stupid horse could've gotten us lost! When I turned her around, that's when I saw the funny rising-up part of the ground and rode over to look.

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If you enjoyed this story, you can vote for it along with many other fine entries here.

Empty Spaces
LJ Idol Exhibit B | week eight, 2 | 790 words
When I Was Young (a story set in the S.A.T.E.D. universe)

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Jimmy asked me about Daddy again today. I still don't know what to say.

Jimmy thinks I must know a whole lot about Daddy, since I was two when he disappeared and Jimmy wasn't even born yet. But you can't remember stuff from when you were two, unless it's your favorite toy or something. I think Daddy maybe had a deep voice and was kind of tall like Uncle Pete. I remember being sad when he didn't come home, and feeling kind of scared. Then Jimmy was born, and I guess the Remaking started then too. A lot of people didn't come home after that, and nobody talks about why. It's like they've forgotten.

Maybe Ma doesn't remember Daddy either. I asked her once if she thought he was dead, and she looked like she was going to cry so I never asked again. All we have is a few pictures, like "John and Charlie" with me riding on his shoulders, or one of him and Ma getting married. I don’t know how pictures work—they're from Before. We have one of Jimmy as a baby, but that's about it. Pictures were taken by machines, so maybe they're not allowed anymore. I don't really understand why machines are bad, except what they tell us in school. I'm not supposed to ask about them, even where they all went. We still have a few machines left in our houses and our town, but Ma says those are the important ones. Who decides what's important? Maybe I'd rather have pictures instead of a refrigerator.

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If you enjoyed this story, you can vote for it along with many other fine entries here.

Rumors, Secrets, and Lies
real lj idol | week 34, prompt 3 | 848 words
Previous topic: Sticks and Stones. (Note: this is set in the same universe as this story, which you might want to read first).

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( I punched Dickie Schroeder at school today...Collapse )



Voting details are here. All voting is by blocks (some possibly members-only) but the groups are small, so not too many stories to read for any one group!

Waiting
real lj idol | week 33, prompt 2 | 791 words
The call that never came. (Note: this is set in the same universe as this story, which it might be best to read first).

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( Don't panic, it's too early for that...Collapse )



Voting for all stories for this LJ Idol prompt is here. Only 18 stories, so they're a quick read!

Going Backwards
real lj idol | week 30 (prompt 3) | 820 words
Appropriation.
Note: This story relates to a previous LJ Idol entry. If you haven't read the other story, I suggest doing so first.

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( I don’t know where I was when it started, but I sure as hell was there at the end.Collapse )



LJ Idol voting for this round is open to all current season participants. Details here.

Science And Technology Elimination Department
real lj idol | week 26 | 908 words
Sated.

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( Me and Jimmy found something yesterday...Collapse )



If you enjoyed this story, you can vote for it along with many other fine entries here.