Next?
by Selma McCrory
copyright 1999

My living room looked like a waiting room. People of all sizes and descriptions were waiting for me to figure out what I was doing, or, failing that, hoping to influence me into writing their fic. Well, at least they were staying clear of the footstool.

At the far corner of the room I could see two of my original characters, Ra'das and Marianne. Those two had been driving me nuts for days, but they seem to have calmed down, no doubt heeding my warning to come up with something useful before bothering me again. Actually, I did finally find out what they were talking about, but then they shut up.

Keeping watch on them was Lili Marquette, representative of one of my E:FC alternate universe fics, and Siobhan Beckett, representing the other alternate universe fic. I wondered where Liam was, but I guess he got a bit tired of talking to me; either that, or he was annoyed at all the attention I was giving Dr. Park.

A short ways away, William Boone and Jade were talking about something. The Implant's face was lit up with a smile at whatever Jade was speaking about. Next to Jade was Lilith, or however she spelled her name, watching over Jade. At the end of the couch was Greer, a younger version of her anyway, crutches leaning against the wall. She was engaged in an intense conversation with Rupert Giles about who-knew-what.

Shadahw Hammond leaned against the piano bench, talking primarily to Teresa DeSantos. Teresa had some kind of object on her lap that she was fussing with; as far as I could tell she was trying to re-open the gateway to Julia's universe. Lucas, somewhat left out of the conversation, had given me several looks, but unless I got a lot more inspired, I wasn't getting anywhere on the OA stuff.

At the dining room table, Vanessa, her sister Melinda, their friend Oliver, and Ian Park were talking over a few mugs of coffee. They seemed caught up in some kind of technical diagram. On the other side of the table, Darla Bennington and Rosemary Schultz were discussing current events and cautiously feeling each other out on their loyalties over tea. Unfortunately, they were both being a bit too cautious - Rosemary was in full "I am a loyal Implant" mode, and Darla was in her "I am neither for nor against the Companions" mode, so I don't think they'd discover how close in belief they were anytime soon.

Ah, so peaceful. So wonderful. So... where did I start?

Nowhere, I guess. Writer's block caused by too much happening. Fun. Nothing to do but wait, hope, and wait.

They'd sort themselves out eventually. No problems. No hurry. I had all the time in the world.

-end