Ubi Est by dracostella (Missing Persons)
Jan. 2nd, 2007 02:20 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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sga_flashficUbi Est
by dracostella
pre-femslash, Elizabeth/OFC
G
Dana had always been fond of Latin even though she flunked German and Spanish. Elizabeth was sure that Dana would like the Ancient language.
~1200 words
Dana's letter got to Elizabeth the fourth time Elizabeth visited Earth. It was in a metallic blue envelope. She didn't notice the letter at first. It was placed next to an ugly bouquet of flowers that some bureaucrat at SGC had sent along with the rest of her mail. The metallic blue seemed almost subdued next to the blossoming monstrosity. The writing on the address label was familiar, but she did not immediately place it until she saw the scribble on the back of the letter written in a black sharpie. The writing was nearly invisible against the bright blue, it read "quidquid Latine dictum sit altum viditur". Anything in Latin sounds more profound.
Dana had always been fond of Latin even though she flunked German and Spanish. Elizabeth was sure that Dana would like the Ancient language.
Elizabeth used to ask, how could you possibly be flunking Spanish when you're breaking the curve in Latin? Damn fascist regimes, Dana would say, and Elizabeth gave up trying to motivate her to take those languages more seriously after a while.
Dana's letter was written in perfect German and Spanish, but it concluded as all of Dana's letters concluded--in Latin. It was an open invitation with an address.
Elizabeth's fake ID was the first thing that Elizabeth had ever owned that was illegal. The first time Elizabeth used it was several months later. Dana had found out that Patrick O'Hearn was playing at a club in Fillmore and insisted that they both go. It's right after your big Econ presentation, and you'll look the wrong side of thirty by then, Dana said. Elizabeth had been working on that particular presentation at the time, and when she looked up to respond to Dana; Dana reached out and roughly rubbed some ink off of Elizabeth's face. Also, stop chewing on your pens, Dana chided in German. Your grammar was totally wrong, Elizabeth said.
Dana's address was in San Francisco, so Elizabeth booked the next flight to SFO with a credit card that SGC had given her. It wasn't until she was almost ready to leave that she went to find Rodney to give him her contact information. "Are you...you're notseeingthatSimonguyareyou?" Rodney asked in a sentence that exponentially accelerated in speed. "No, I'm visiting an old friend," Elizabeth said. "Oh." Rodney said, visibly letting out a breath. "How are you getting to the airport?" Rodney asked.
Elizabeth loved riding the bus late at night. And the bus that took them to the dance club made frequent stops. Elizabeth and Dana took turns making up stories about the people getting on the bus, and they would talk aloud about their fellow passengers in Latin. That one, Elizabeth said in a stage whisper, the one who just called us freaky little witches in Russian. She is mad because she her cat urinated on her favorite rug at home. Her cat is named Stalin, Dana said, because she likes to yell at her cat, 'bad Stalin, bad bad Stalin!' Elizabeth laughed so hard at the joke that she was certain that they now had the undivided attention of the cat woman.
Dana probably couldn't make up a story more interesting that Elizabeth's life now, Elizabeth thought ruefully as she looked around at her fellow passengers on the plane. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the service button to order a glass of wine. But when the flight attendant came, she changed her mind and ordered a beer.
Elizabeth could smell stale beer on the bouncer outside of the club. He was also obviously checking out their breasts and not their IDs when he let them inside. Who watches the guards, Dana whispered in her ear. Elizabeth felt the crisp edges of Dana's skirt brushing against the back of her legs for a moment and she couldn't think of a witty retort.
Dana used to make snippy comments in a crowd of people in a language everyone could understand when she was really annoyed. It embarrassed Elizabeth to no end when Dana used to do that. But now as Elizabeth rubbed her throbbing head where she got smacked on the head by an overhead luggage, Elizabeth kind of wished that Dana was around. The kid who caused the accident as he rushed off the plane didn't even pause to apologize. Rude little pipsqueak, Elizabeth cursed in Ancient.
Elizabeth cursed in Latin, German and Spanish at the cost of anachronisms as they pushed and shoved their way into the club while her feet got stomped on more than once. Everywhere, Elizabeth could feel the moist heat of too many human bodies in too small a space. But Dana's hand remained on her back, emitting dry warmth despite the raised temperature. What do you think of this place? Dana yelled over the loud disco music as they got on the dance floor. It's definitely not a school dance, Elizabeth yelled back. No Sister Kerry to smack boys' hands with rulers either, Dana said. She moved closer, dancing right behind Elizabeth--their bodies were inches apart and touching every now and then. But don't worry, I've got you covered, Dana said.
Dana would have appreciated the skills that Elizabeth used to get out of the airport without causing more injury to herself, Elizabeth thought. And if Elizabeth succumbed to a few more curses in Ancient as people pushed past her, she wasn't going to dwell on it. She sighed in relief when she finally got to the curb side and hailed a taxi. When the driver asked her where she would like to go, Elizabeth took a quick breath and swallowed the address of where she used to live and gave the driver Dana's address instead.
Elizabeth had been swaying wildly to the hypnotic beats of the club for almost an hour when Patrick O'Hearn actually started playing. And though Elizabeth didn't think it was possible, the music got louder, and it echoed on her insides. I'm going to be deaf after this, Elizabeth said. Yes, but it will be worth it, Dana said. She got even closer to Elizabeth as they danced, and she could smell the faint scent of Dana's hair spray.
Dana's house was a classic Victorian just like a thousand other houses in San Francisco. But it was the normalcy of it that finally got to Elizabeth after she had rung the door bell. She wondered wildly why she was here. It had been almost twenty years since they had seen each other. They had exchanged letters in college and at the beginning of Elizabeth's career but there had been so many things. Jobs and ambitions and--
Elizabeth felt the soft brush of fingers on the side of her face, almost a kiss with a hand. You had a bit of ink there still, Dana said. Then the strobe lights came on.
Dana opened the door, older, but still Dana in every way. She immediately recognized Elizabeth as well, and embraced her in a tight hug. And as their faces touched in passing, Elizabeth said, "Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima?" Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat? Dana laughed in a huff of warm breath against Elizabeth's face. "Oh Elizabeth, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find you! But there you are!"
Elizabeth said, "Yes, here I am." And let Dana lead her into the house.
by dracostella
pre-femslash, Elizabeth/OFC
G
Dana had always been fond of Latin even though she flunked German and Spanish. Elizabeth was sure that Dana would like the Ancient language.
~1200 words
Dana's letter got to Elizabeth the fourth time Elizabeth visited Earth. It was in a metallic blue envelope. She didn't notice the letter at first. It was placed next to an ugly bouquet of flowers that some bureaucrat at SGC had sent along with the rest of her mail. The metallic blue seemed almost subdued next to the blossoming monstrosity. The writing on the address label was familiar, but she did not immediately place it until she saw the scribble on the back of the letter written in a black sharpie. The writing was nearly invisible against the bright blue, it read "quidquid Latine dictum sit altum viditur". Anything in Latin sounds more profound.
Dana had always been fond of Latin even though she flunked German and Spanish. Elizabeth was sure that Dana would like the Ancient language.
Elizabeth used to ask, how could you possibly be flunking Spanish when you're breaking the curve in Latin? Damn fascist regimes, Dana would say, and Elizabeth gave up trying to motivate her to take those languages more seriously after a while.
Dana's letter was written in perfect German and Spanish, but it concluded as all of Dana's letters concluded--in Latin. It was an open invitation with an address.
Elizabeth's fake ID was the first thing that Elizabeth had ever owned that was illegal. The first time Elizabeth used it was several months later. Dana had found out that Patrick O'Hearn was playing at a club in Fillmore and insisted that they both go. It's right after your big Econ presentation, and you'll look the wrong side of thirty by then, Dana said. Elizabeth had been working on that particular presentation at the time, and when she looked up to respond to Dana; Dana reached out and roughly rubbed some ink off of Elizabeth's face. Also, stop chewing on your pens, Dana chided in German. Your grammar was totally wrong, Elizabeth said.
Dana's address was in San Francisco, so Elizabeth booked the next flight to SFO with a credit card that SGC had given her. It wasn't until she was almost ready to leave that she went to find Rodney to give him her contact information. "Are you...you're notseeingthatSimonguyareyou?" Rodney asked in a sentence that exponentially accelerated in speed. "No, I'm visiting an old friend," Elizabeth said. "Oh." Rodney said, visibly letting out a breath. "How are you getting to the airport?" Rodney asked.
Elizabeth loved riding the bus late at night. And the bus that took them to the dance club made frequent stops. Elizabeth and Dana took turns making up stories about the people getting on the bus, and they would talk aloud about their fellow passengers in Latin. That one, Elizabeth said in a stage whisper, the one who just called us freaky little witches in Russian. She is mad because she her cat urinated on her favorite rug at home. Her cat is named Stalin, Dana said, because she likes to yell at her cat, 'bad Stalin, bad bad Stalin!' Elizabeth laughed so hard at the joke that she was certain that they now had the undivided attention of the cat woman.
Dana probably couldn't make up a story more interesting that Elizabeth's life now, Elizabeth thought ruefully as she looked around at her fellow passengers on the plane. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the service button to order a glass of wine. But when the flight attendant came, she changed her mind and ordered a beer.
Elizabeth could smell stale beer on the bouncer outside of the club. He was also obviously checking out their breasts and not their IDs when he let them inside. Who watches the guards, Dana whispered in her ear. Elizabeth felt the crisp edges of Dana's skirt brushing against the back of her legs for a moment and she couldn't think of a witty retort.
Dana used to make snippy comments in a crowd of people in a language everyone could understand when she was really annoyed. It embarrassed Elizabeth to no end when Dana used to do that. But now as Elizabeth rubbed her throbbing head where she got smacked on the head by an overhead luggage, Elizabeth kind of wished that Dana was around. The kid who caused the accident as he rushed off the plane didn't even pause to apologize. Rude little pipsqueak, Elizabeth cursed in Ancient.
Elizabeth cursed in Latin, German and Spanish at the cost of anachronisms as they pushed and shoved their way into the club while her feet got stomped on more than once. Everywhere, Elizabeth could feel the moist heat of too many human bodies in too small a space. But Dana's hand remained on her back, emitting dry warmth despite the raised temperature. What do you think of this place? Dana yelled over the loud disco music as they got on the dance floor. It's definitely not a school dance, Elizabeth yelled back. No Sister Kerry to smack boys' hands with rulers either, Dana said. She moved closer, dancing right behind Elizabeth--their bodies were inches apart and touching every now and then. But don't worry, I've got you covered, Dana said.
Dana would have appreciated the skills that Elizabeth used to get out of the airport without causing more injury to herself, Elizabeth thought. And if Elizabeth succumbed to a few more curses in Ancient as people pushed past her, she wasn't going to dwell on it. She sighed in relief when she finally got to the curb side and hailed a taxi. When the driver asked her where she would like to go, Elizabeth took a quick breath and swallowed the address of where she used to live and gave the driver Dana's address instead.
Elizabeth had been swaying wildly to the hypnotic beats of the club for almost an hour when Patrick O'Hearn actually started playing. And though Elizabeth didn't think it was possible, the music got louder, and it echoed on her insides. I'm going to be deaf after this, Elizabeth said. Yes, but it will be worth it, Dana said. She got even closer to Elizabeth as they danced, and she could smell the faint scent of Dana's hair spray.
Dana's house was a classic Victorian just like a thousand other houses in San Francisco. But it was the normalcy of it that finally got to Elizabeth after she had rung the door bell. She wondered wildly why she was here. It had been almost twenty years since they had seen each other. They had exchanged letters in college and at the beginning of Elizabeth's career but there had been so many things. Jobs and ambitions and--
Elizabeth felt the soft brush of fingers on the side of her face, almost a kiss with a hand. You had a bit of ink there still, Dana said. Then the strobe lights came on.
Dana opened the door, older, but still Dana in every way. She immediately recognized Elizabeth as well, and embraced her in a tight hug. And as their faces touched in passing, Elizabeth said, "Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima?" Do you by chance happen to own a large, yellowish, very flat cat? Dana laughed in a huff of warm breath against Elizabeth's face. "Oh Elizabeth, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find you! But there you are!"
Elizabeth said, "Yes, here I am." And let Dana lead her into the house.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-02 10:54 am (UTC)cursed in Latin, German and Spanish at the cost of anachronisms
lol
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-02 10:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 02:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-16 06:39 pm (UTC)