Wonder City Stories II #16
Jan. 10th, 2011 12:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wonder_cityTruth and Consequences
Megan leaned back on the sofa and looked at the ceiling. "That Brandon guy looked familiar."
"Of course he did," Watson said from next to her. "He looked like every wealthy blond fraternity brother at an Ivy League college ever. It's almost a costume, it's so stereotypical."
"He even had the collar on his buttondown turned up and his hair strategically mussed," G said from the other side of Watson.
"All in all," Zoltan said serenely from his favorite chair, "he is sartorially tragic."
"They're attempting to depict diversity," G said, arms crossed, frowning at the blank television set.
"By making the Indian woman some sort of... of... belly bunny?" Megan said.
"Tom isn't stereotypical," Watson pointed out. "He's not a geeky Asian man who watches fetish anime or anything."
"They'll find something," Megan said gloomily. "I bet he does martial arts."
"At least Simon is well-dressed," Zoltan said, finishing his glass of wine. "I accomplished that much."
"Was the blue tuxedo your fault?" G said.
"God, no!" Zoltan said. "That... and the shaving little lines along the side of his head... are entirely the fault of the network."
"I wonder if they tried to get his goatee," Watson said. "He's very protective of the goatee."
"He loves his goatee in a thoroughly unnatural way," Megan said. "If they tried to shave it or even trim it, they probably had to replace the stylist. 'Stylist Mauled By Wolf'!"
"Staff members must burn through fast on reality shows," G said. "It's like the networks give the people on these shows license to be the biggest assholes ever."
"I think they just show the assholery because it makes good television," Megan said. "Connnnflict makes good television after all."
"You," G said, pointing at Megan, "are a cynic."
"That's why television news broadcasts like paras," Megan said in protest, though still not looking at G. "We're all conflict all the time, in most non-para minds."
"They're not far wrong," Watson said, almost under her breath.
"Speaking of conflict, I wonder how Lizzie expects to dodge her family," Megan said, tapping her forehead with her thumb, "being on national television and all."
"Does she want to?" Watson asked.
"From what little I got from my brief conversation with her," Megan said, "yes, indeed. She made her deal with that weird... energy being thingie... in order to get away from her family."
"Then we can anticipate one of two things," Watson said. "One: her family never surfaces and hides in ignominy until one of their small-town neighbors sells the story to the tabloids. Two: the family sells the story to the tabloids. Probably in the next... oh, month, I think."
"Poor kid," G said. "Not one for considering consequences, I guess."
"No, I don't think so," Megan said, still gazing ceilingward.
"The young do not have a fully-developed sense of consequence," Zoltan said airily. "Which is why you children are so much fun to watch."
The three women glowered at the vampire as one. He smiled a thoroughly disarming smile and shrugged. "It is the truth," he said. He gestured to the television. "Same time next week, ladies?"
---
From the Author:
Winter is well and truly here, alas. I am recovering from a bout of bronchitis. My busted shoulder (we're on day 67 after the accident now) is displeased with the world, but physical therapy is good for it.
I'm posting twice weekly during January. If you like this twice-weekly thing, I'm doing it again in January: if January's posts draw 50 comments total, I'll post twice weekly through February too. As before, if you provide a comment bonanza, I'll extend appropriately.
Vote for us at Top Web Fiction! It's just a few clicks!
Megan leaned back on the sofa and looked at the ceiling. "That Brandon guy looked familiar."
"Of course he did," Watson said from next to her. "He looked like every wealthy blond fraternity brother at an Ivy League college ever. It's almost a costume, it's so stereotypical."
"He even had the collar on his buttondown turned up and his hair strategically mussed," G said from the other side of Watson.
"All in all," Zoltan said serenely from his favorite chair, "he is sartorially tragic."
"They're attempting to depict diversity," G said, arms crossed, frowning at the blank television set.
"By making the Indian woman some sort of... of... belly bunny?" Megan said.
"Tom isn't stereotypical," Watson pointed out. "He's not a geeky Asian man who watches fetish anime or anything."
"They'll find something," Megan said gloomily. "I bet he does martial arts."
"At least Simon is well-dressed," Zoltan said, finishing his glass of wine. "I accomplished that much."
"Was the blue tuxedo your fault?" G said.
"God, no!" Zoltan said. "That... and the shaving little lines along the side of his head... are entirely the fault of the network."
"I wonder if they tried to get his goatee," Watson said. "He's very protective of the goatee."
"He loves his goatee in a thoroughly unnatural way," Megan said. "If they tried to shave it or even trim it, they probably had to replace the stylist. 'Stylist Mauled By Wolf'!"
"Staff members must burn through fast on reality shows," G said. "It's like the networks give the people on these shows license to be the biggest assholes ever."
"I think they just show the assholery because it makes good television," Megan said. "Connnnflict makes good television after all."
"You," G said, pointing at Megan, "are a cynic."
"That's why television news broadcasts like paras," Megan said in protest, though still not looking at G. "We're all conflict all the time, in most non-para minds."
"They're not far wrong," Watson said, almost under her breath.
"Speaking of conflict, I wonder how Lizzie expects to dodge her family," Megan said, tapping her forehead with her thumb, "being on national television and all."
"Does she want to?" Watson asked.
"From what little I got from my brief conversation with her," Megan said, "yes, indeed. She made her deal with that weird... energy being thingie... in order to get away from her family."
"Then we can anticipate one of two things," Watson said. "One: her family never surfaces and hides in ignominy until one of their small-town neighbors sells the story to the tabloids. Two: the family sells the story to the tabloids. Probably in the next... oh, month, I think."
"Poor kid," G said. "Not one for considering consequences, I guess."
"No, I don't think so," Megan said, still gazing ceilingward.
"The young do not have a fully-developed sense of consequence," Zoltan said airily. "Which is why you children are so much fun to watch."
The three women glowered at the vampire as one. He smiled a thoroughly disarming smile and shrugged. "It is the truth," he said. He gestured to the television. "Same time next week, ladies?"
---
From the Author:
Winter is well and truly here, alas. I am recovering from a bout of bronchitis. My busted shoulder (we're on day 67 after the accident now) is displeased with the world, but physical therapy is good for it.
I'm posting twice weekly during January. If you like this twice-weekly thing, I'm doing it again in January: if January's posts draw 50 comments total, I'll post twice weekly through February too. As before, if you provide a comment bonanza, I'll extend appropriately.
Vote for us at Top Web Fiction! It's just a few clicks!
