
And a special gift for those who have been reading the Perceptions and The Ends stories...a New Year's character dialogue which didn't quite come out the way I expected, but the sentiment is still there...somewhere... ;)
Writer: It's awfully quiet. Where is everyone?
Cally: Is there something the matter?
Writer: I thought there'd be more noise considering what you did last year. What happened to the party in the other time zone?
Avon: That was last year.
Writer: Are you saying you're not doing one this year?
Cally: What Avon means is that we have decided to celebrate New Year's according to your time zone this year.
Writer: Oooh! Thank you for the Avon-translation Cally.
Avon: You only had to ask.
Sester: Or ask someone else.
Avon (sarcasm dripping and spilling onto the floor): You?
Sester: Why not me?
Argus: She wants answers, not riddles no one can solve.
Sester: Just because you can't solve them…
Corinne: I like riddles.
Argus: Corinne, don't encourage him.
Reya: Riddles might be fun during the party.
Argus (growls): That means we have to invite him.
Reya: Argus…
Argus (grumbles): Oh, all right.
Avon 'stares' at him.
Argus: It wasn't my idea…
Avon: It never is. That's the problem.
Sester is smirking.
Vila (pushing in a cart of goodies and starts handing out drinks and party favours): Is there any reason we can't start the party now?
Cally: I think that's a very good idea, Vila.
Kirsten (lifts up a pair of…handcuffs): Hmm, what are these for I wonder.
Sester (swallows hard and clears his throat)
Reya: Did you want to say something?
Avon: He appears to be speechless.
Argus (Goes over to study them): Aren't these the ones you used on me, Reya?
Sester: You put them there, didn't you?
Argus: Why would I do that?
Avon: I can think of many reasons.
Corinne (mystified): Are we all talking about the same thing?
Kirsten: Sester?
Sester: Uh…
Reya (looking concerned): Are you ill?
Corinne: He does look flushed.
Sester: I think I need to sit down.
Avon (to Kirsten): Very nicely done.
Kirsten: I don't know what you mean.
Avon: Of course.
Vila whispers something in Corinne's ear.
Corinne (blushing): Oooh…that's supposed to be fun?
Vila: Well, yes…uh, maybe…not that I've tried it before…
Corinne: Hmm.
Vila (coughs): Uh…why don't we all have a drink instead.
Avon (in a voice dryer than sand under a hot sun): What a good idea.
Jumping ahead to the New Year's Countdown, the soldiers, the wolves (gnawing on tasty bones, not Sester's) and the Argus clones have joined the festivities. Everyone holds up a glass.
Argus: To everyone, in whatever time zone you may be in…
Jenna races down the flight deck steps: Wait for me!
Reya (handing her a glass): You almost didn't make it. What took you so long?
Jenna (accepts glass): Well…
Lt. Dain: You look very nice, Jenna.
Argus: If we're all present and ready now…
Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers!
Sigh, keep forgetting stuff. Corinne is now in the picture.
And, thanks to the wonderfully talented