Welcome to the Teapot Nebula.

One Hundred Words. Infinite Worlds.

A small glimpse further into my mind, its a dark place with many cobwebs and often forgotten about. This blog was about drabbles, but has evolved into a few other random writings, or witterings when I'm not abandoning it alltogether for other crafty pursuits.

Saturday 1 December 2007

Butterfly

A naked bulb swung back and forth, the shadow of butterflies across the room. Her left boot kicked the body on the dirt floor. “Where’s the girl?”

“I don’t know!”

“That’s not the answer I wanted.” She said retrieving the gun from the small of her back. “You have been a bad boy Bobby.” She aimed the gun at his head.

“Wait! Tommy’s got her!”

“Tommy?”

“ At the Rooster Club.”

“That’s all I needed…places to go people to…” she said smiling and pulled the trigger. The light illuminating the tattoo on her back, skulls on black butterfly wings. “kill.”

Monday 19 November 2007

Scene

The body lay twisted and bloody, half buried in the dirt and mud. Blonde hair matted with blood and gore, sightless blue eyes stared into an unrelenting sun. She knelt down beside the lifeless figure fingers reaching out to caress a lock of golden hair.

“Mom! Don‘t touch anything.”

“What have you done?”

“Mom you’re contaminating my crime scene!”

“Your what?”

“My crime scene!”

“You best clean up this mess before your sister finds her Barbie in the mud. And no more CSI!”

“Aw…but CSI: Vegas is on tonight!”

“That isn’t my new red nail polish is it?”

“um no.”

Friday 5 October 2007

Ankara

The following is a short story I wrote a few years ago that I just recovered from the old laptop and had complety frogotten existed till I read it ten minutes ago. Its not the best I have ever written but I don't things its all that bad and hopefully rereading it will inspire me to write more. I just moved this over from the meridian ariel blog and thought it might fit a bit better here even though it isn't a drabble.

Ankara

"Welcome to the beautiful city of Ankara. Gem of the Empire." Zenia muttered under her breath as the door to the cell slammed shut, the lock loudly clicking in place. She waited a moment before pushing to her feet and surveying the dank cell in the dim light from a small window in the door. She could hear the shuffling steps of the guard retreating up the long flight of stairs. " Spend the night in the exotic Palace Dungeon visited by men and women from around the Empire." Zen continued her monologue her tone dripping with acid.

"We’re going to die here aren’t we?"

" What? What sort of attitude is that? I’ve been in worse scrapes that this, this is nothing."

"When?"

"Well I was once climbing a mountain in search of my father’s lost sheep. Halfway to the top the path became very steep. I lost my footing and started to slide down the mountain to my death. I held onto an outcrop of rock, the sharp edges biting into my hands. I looked around and found that I was so high up that the clouds were below me. I could hear the sounds of the sheep bleeting somewhere above me, so up I climbed, hand over hand, higher and higher. All the sudden I heard a terrible howling, and upon the ledge above me stood a pack of winter starved wolves, saliva dripping from their long yellow fangs. There I was, hanging by one arm on the side of a freezing cold mountain, wondering whether or not I should leave the sheep to the wolves and climb back down to safety. As I contemplated my best route home, a hideous roar shook the mountain. Down below me on a ledge stood a giant bear. Imagine that. Hanging from one arm on the side of a mountain. I couldn’t climb up, because of the wolves. I couldn’t go down the mountain as the bear was waiting for me. Now have you ever heard of a worse predicament?"

"No never" Chianna exclaimed waiting patiently for Zen to finish her tail. Zen began to sort through the mouldy, louse infested straw of the dungeon cell. " Uh Zen?"

"Filthy stuff, but some of it seems to be dry. It should be better than sleeping on the cold hard stone." Zen murmured keeping her eyes from alighting on Chianna’s face as she carefully lowered herself to the straw reaching for the small dish of stale slightly mouldy bread "oh good no maggots just a bit of mould."

"Zen"

"It’s not a feast but it should be enough to fill our bellies. The water isn’t too bad either." Zen continued breaking the bread into equal halves and taking a cautious sip of the brackish water in its dented metal pitcher.

"Well?"

"Yes?" Zen looked up, absently brushing a strand of raven hair from her eyes, her face devoid of all expression. "Did you want this side of the cell?"

"The story Zen! Finish the story. What happened next?" blurted Chianna, her cheeks flushing as red as her hair in exasperation.

"Oh that" "Yes that. How did you get down the mountain?" Chianna asked eyes flashing green fire in the dimly lit cell.

"Oh. I didn’t." She replied in a bland tone.

"What?"

"The bear ate me." Zen finished blue eyes sparkling with merriment as Chianna stared at her mouth agape before bursting into helpless laughter. "That’s better. Now remember, never give up. The only situation that could be worse is if we were dead and then nothing would matter anyway. I have been in worse circumstances than this." Zen finished, the corner of her lips twitching slightly as she bent to adjust the laces of her boot withdrawing from a hidden sheath a small deadly looking dagger. The blade gleamed in the pale yellow light shining from the barred window in the door. Now lets get some sleep. We’ll need it for whatever comes next." Zen slipped the dagger back into her boot settling herself in the straw, a small smile curving her lips as her eyes closed.

copyright 2003ish Meridian Ariel

Monday 20 August 2007

lunatic

“Hello and welcome to Lycanthropes Anonymous. Tonight we have a new face so can we all put our paws together and give a warm welcome to Lonnie.”
“Hello Lonnie!” the room chorused.
“hi.. Um I don’t know what to say.”
“Why don’t you share with us how you were turned.”
“I can’t”
“Of course you can dear, we all have.”
“Oh god.”
“.Just let it all go dear.”
“I was camping in Yosemite. This is so embarrassing. ” Lonnie shifted uncomfortably in her plastic chair. “I was bitten…. by a tick. OK. I got lycanthropy from a fucking tick bite.”

Wednesday 15 August 2007

rainbows

He watched as the rain began to fall, shattering the oily rainbows on the puddle’s surface. A bitter smile curved his dry lips. “It’s the end of the world as we know it…” he sang softly pushing away from the rusted car he was leaning against looking out over the freeway, full of dead cars rusting quietly in the rain. Hefting his pack he picked a path through the jumble of dead cars headed away from another abandoned city. No technology, meant no people, just another civilization fallen. Leaving behind plastic water bottles and oil slick rainbows. “It’s the End….”

Tuesday 10 July 2007

flame

The rain was turned to ice as the night fell. They crept exhausted into the the only shelter . Illyria watching silently as the men gathered wood to build a fire.
“Never gonna burn Cair. too wet.” said Lorn.
“Then we freeze to death.”
“I know.”
Illyria crept to the wood, thrust her hands into it and it bust into flames.
“What the hell?”
“How did you…”
“Why didn’t you…..”
“Tis witchcraft.” Illyria whispered biting her lip.
“ Thou shall not suffer a witch to live. Bloody Idiots.”
“Tis death.”
“If caught.”
“They can’t burn a fire witch can they?”

Saturday 7 July 2007

Siren

She stood at the edge of the world, the edge of the sea, toes digging into warm sand. Fingers gripping the soft fabric of her skirt. With each new wave foaming on the shore, each beat of her heart the sound of the sea calling . Singing its siren song of blue waters and fathomless depths. Longing burned in her blood. Silent tears slip down her face carrying the salty tang of the sea. Waves crash and her body sways forward. “Mummy!” a child’s high voice. Chubby fingers entwine with hers ,tugging they break the sea’s spell. “I love you.”

Wednesday 4 July 2007

Long Time Gone - theme chosen by Meg

She stood in the shadow of an ancient oak watching the moon rise luminous over the town in the valley below. She watched as the town filled with the inviting warmth of candle and fire light. She looked at the dusty road . “They say you can’t go home again.” she whispered to the tree holding tight to its dry bark. The wind whispered through the leaves teasing the hem of her cloak. Shifting her pack she stepped out onto the road. “Been a long time gone. Nowhere left to go.” She whispered walking toward the warm glow of lights.

Thursday 28 June 2007

And The Horse He Rode In On

Trinity Falls
Hadrian
The Outer System

Bronwyn stepped from the transport pod and into the dust of another backwater outpost. A ramshackle bar the only lighted building in the outpost. She entered and found a dark haired man sat at a table.
“Any luck on the fugitive?”
“Yeah .You’re not gonna like it.”
“Just tell me.” Bronwyn said reaching for a spoon of his stew.
“He raped the mayor’s daughter.”
“.Don’t tell me they killed him?”
“They didn’t just kill him they butchered and ate him.”
“Ate ?” Bronwyn whispered dropping the spoon.
“And the horse he rode in on.”

Intentions

“Did you finish that job yet?”
“No I’ll do it later after I finish this one.”
“You promised remember.”
“I know and I intend to do it later when I finished this one.”
“You know what they say. The road to hell is paved in good intentions.”
“You know hat doesn’t make any sense don‘t you? That would mean the road to heaven is paved in bad?”
“Its just what they say.”
“Who says?”
“I don’t know just they, its always just they.”
“Look I’ll get to the job when I’ve finished this one, Is that ok with you?”
“Yeah.”

Tuesday 26 June 2007

Tears Of The Sun

They fell from the sky, tears from the heart of the sun. Hidden from humanity’s gaze, from our science. They fell to the earth, we were powerless, everything we thought the height of our technology, our civilization, our humanity. Gone, Everything is gone, buildings, power plants, weapons, technology. A few of us remain, forsaken souls, left alone. What’s left of mankind lives in fear of the dark once more. We fear the predators beyond the safety of the fire, and the darkness beyond the Earth. Guns don’t work anymore. All we have is the desire to survive. Mankind lives on.

Monday 25 June 2007

On The Road (theme handpicked by Meg)

“Hey Charlie wake up we’re here!”
“huh, what? I‘m awake? Are we at San Francisco already?” Charlie grumbled opening her eyes and staring blearily out the window.
“Hurry lets go” Alex said jumping out of the car.
“Where are we Alex? A fire station?” Charlie got out yawning.
“Livermore Station. Hurry up.” Alex cajoled dragging Charlie inside. “Look there it is.” Alex whispered.
Charlie looked around slowly. “What is?”
“No up there” Alex pointed at a dimly glowing light bulb.
“It’s a light bulb.”
“Its The World’s Longest Burning Bulb!”
“You’re joking right? Lets get back on the road. ”


....................................
I have actually been to Livermore and besides the famous Lab, the light bulb was about the most intresting thing there.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/lightbulbs.html

Friday 22 June 2007

Cult of Celebrity

Temple of the Holy Wood
Former Republic of Kalifornia
High Producer Lucas and Lord Director Cameron stand near the alter, two initiates bring forward a golden box.
“The relic?”
“Yes. High Producer.“ the initiates reply setting the box down.
“You may leave, Sister Close will see to you.” Hitchcock slowly opened the box and removed the contents.
“She is beautiful!” Lucas exclaimed as he cradled the head in his hands., reverently touching the porcelain cheeks, plump red lips, the golden hair, dull cornflower blue eyes, every detail perfectly preserved for two millennia.
“Praise Botox Goddess of beauty! ”
“Praise Botox.”

Remnant

Aryanne watched from the doorway as the snow fell ,carpeting the barren landscape in glittering white. Grimacing she closed the door and shuffled near the warmth of the fire. “Storm coming.” She muttered. a grey cat tangled about her legs purring brokenly. She absently picked up the cat stroking its fur as she gazed into the dying flames. “More fuel.” she grunted dropping the cat, and grabbing a ancient book from the stack beside the fire. Ebay for Dummies was written across its tattered cover, a remnant from before the fall of man. Smiling she watched the fire consume it.

Thursday 21 June 2007

While you were away something happened.

“Welcome back Tru.” Medical officer Io trilled nervously, as Tru awoke from deep stasis. “While you were in stasis. something happened.” Io blurted.
“ Mind yourself Medic.” Kerrin glared. “Not now.”
“Captain?” Tru looked at the medic, the last thing he remembered was the explosion in the cargo bay. “The cargo?”
“The Cargo is fine.”
“Then what is it? Captain?”
Kerrin sighed, his gaze slid to the view port, Tru‘s eyes followed. The Hawking II was orbiting a moon.
“it’s a moon.”
“No not a moon.. THE moon.”
“The moon.… but.. Earth?” Tru stammered.
“Exactly.”
“Its not there.”
“No its not.”


I posted this drabble as a comment on the site www.100wordstories.com a drabble site.

Supernatural

Kara stood in the great library leafing through dusty volumes, smelling of age and decay. Teeth drawing a spot of crimson on full lips, she reached into the hidden compartment and withdrew a small silver and leather bound volume. Heart racing she slid the book under her cloak. Kara exited the labyrinth of shelves, head bent low, eyes gleaming, avoiding the attentive gaze of white robed clerics . The book, Magics: Arcane and Supernatural, was forbidden . Treason. The punishment for magic was death. Lady Kara Ravenwood, was a true daughter of the blood and a traitor to the crown.

Huntress

The moon and stars glimmer in the pool of night blackened water. Leaves dance in a caress of foul wind carrying the scent of fire, cloying smoke, burnt flesh, the bitter tang of metal, the taint and filth of humanity. The smell of death. Twigs snap and branches break, echoing in the forest, and the pool is invaded by men, bloodstained warriors all. They drink of the water, muddying it with the blood and gore of battle. Filling the night with raucous laughter, course words and the clinking of coins. Green eyes blaze fire in the dark. The Huntress awakens.