fiery_flamingo: stock: fruit (Stock: Bubbles)
Samantha ([personal profile] fiery_flamingo) wrote2011-08-16 11:42 pm

Fic: Sisyphean | George Weasley/Angelina Johnson | R

Title: Sisyphean
Characters: George Weasley/Angelina Johnson
Words: 267
Rating: R/Mature
Summary: Grief takes many forms. This is theirs.
Warnings: Alcoholism, angst
Author's Note: Written for [livejournal.com profile] drcjsnider for [livejournal.com profile] rarepair_shortsSummer Wishlist Event.



To be numb, that’s his goal. Apathetic. Indifferent. Frozen. He’s collected a thesaurus worth of words that he wishes he could be, one for every shot and pint put before him.

He sinks into each drink, feeling the effect take hold. First, his mouth; a strange anesthesia of tongue and teeth. After that it’s a slow progression of lost limbs until marionette strings raise his arm for the next round. He floats in nothingness, just a mind, a pair of eyes, and a mouth.

Eventually, he’s not even that. He is deadened, ceasing to exist until morning. It’s no loss, he thinks; he was only half there to begin.

Angelina wants to be anything but numb. If she has her way, she’ll go up in flames, a flash of fire and sensation. She’s hungry for everything. There will never be too much whiskey, too many cigarettes, or too many men. There’s only what’s next.

She chases every thought about the past with a shot and a kiss, convinced they’ll keep away this time. She fills herself up until there’s no room to remember the dead.

They fall into bed together with ironic regularity, unhealthy but symbiotic. George keeps the room dark, Angelina tops. It’s a relief to them both, to not have to pretend to care. When it’s over, she steals all the covers and he rolls to the edge of the mattress, both their minds blank. It’s the best sleep they get all week.

In the morning, they don’t speak because they both know. He is not numb, she hasn’t forgotten, and they both need a drink.




[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/the_woods_/ 2011-08-17 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Wow !! Brilliant job, loved the angst. And that opener was perfect.

-n

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
:D Thanks! I decided to just roll around in the angst, nuzzle right up to it.

Also, good job on getting to the fic through my broken link. -_-

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/the_woods_/ 2011-08-17 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
Hehe, I can be crafty like that :) Although I *knew* there was something else I was suppose to tell you in that last comment ! Can't believe I forgot to mention the broken link.

-n

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
S'all good, is fixed now. :) A for effort!

[identity profile] a-gypsys-dance.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
ah, I love this! the characterizations of both are just brilliant. well done!

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks :D They're a fun, destructive pair.

PS. MMM, Henry!
Edited 2011-08-17 04:52 (UTC)

[identity profile] teenage-hustler.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
Fantastic short. I love the emotion you've captured here. Really well done.

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[identity profile] leigh-adams.livejournal.com 2011-08-17 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I ♥ angst. I ♥ you.

I know I already told you, but this is beautiful, babe. They're both so self-destructive, and they're on a collision course for disaster. And there's nothing you can really do but watch in horror.

Great work! :*

[identity profile] drcjsnider.livejournal.com 2011-08-18 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Oh damn... amazing. I adore how it isn't one or the other not being able to deal with Fred's death but BOTH of them in pain and seeking an escape.

Thank you so much for writing this!

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-08-18 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you like it! I couldn't decide who to be out of control with grief so I just doubled down. Figured if one angsty person is good, two will be great, right? xD
brightflower: (bookgirl)

[personal profile] brightflower 2011-08-19 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
This is so incredibly sad, but you wrote it with beauty. I adore angst when it's done right. You really went all out here, but it's so justified, and my heart just breaks for these two characters. ♥

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-08-20 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you liked it! ♥ They're so sad, aren't they? :(

[identity profile] elle-blessing.livejournal.com 2011-08-20 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I really loved the marionette metaphor; it brought to mind really vivid imagery.

He is deadened, ceasing to exist until morning. It’s no loss, he thinks; he was only half there to begin.

SO much there with so few words. *snuggles George*

Ugh. This whole thing is so angsty. You painted a really great picture about how they both deal with the loss of Fred; different, but equally destructive. I'm all sadface for them :(
swissmarg: Mrs Hudson (Default)

[personal profile] swissmarg 2011-09-06 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I think this is what Rowling meant by 'unhealthy'. Chilling and brilliant.

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-09-06 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you liked it, dood. I, too, am sadface for them. :( *snuggs them both*

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-09-06 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much :D Glad you enjoyed it.

[identity profile] gretagarbled.livejournal.com 2011-09-11 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
oh that last line is devastating. It's beautiful.

[identity profile] fiery-flamingo.livejournal.com 2011-09-12 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much. :D