Ficlet: Seven for a Secret Never to be Told

[bibliodragon]

Title: Seven for a Secret Never to be Told
Author: bibliodragon
Rating: Gen
Spoilers: New Caprica
Word Count: 300

For ar_drabbles's silver challenge.


"One for sorrow, two for joy."

"Hmm?" The words pleasantly slipped into the sleepy fog that was his brain, and he rolled his head to look down at the woman in red tucked up against him. His eyes took some convincing to leave that sight to follow her gaze, a group of black and white birds perching on tents. They had bigger beaks than Caprican magpies, he remembered, and a destructive tendency along with a fearless nature had led to a report somehow ending up on his desk, as if they could afford to waste munitions on pest control. Stupid Baltar.

"I though it was two for mirth? That's what my grandmother always said. Anyway, there's more than two. How'd it go? 'Three for a wedding, four for a death.'"

"Then I hope there's more than four of them. Anyway, it's three for a girl, four for a boy."

She's on a roll now, and he finds the way her lips form the words far more interesting.

"'Five for silver, six for gold.' I can't remember the rest."

"And you a teacher.” He watches as she frowns in thought, the slow reaction brought on by the smoke all the more adorable, and he gives in to the overwhelming urge to brush his lips across her forehead before reciting in a drawl. "Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, ten for a time of joyous bliss."

She smiles. "Oh, I like that one." She tries to lift her head, tries and gives up, letting it rest against his shoulder. "How many are there?"

His own head is heavy, and he can only make a cursory glance, "I count five."

"Hmm. Five. Silver." She looks up at him and smiles, as she her fingers run through his hair. "I like silver."

Comments

[bsg-aussiegirl.livejournal.com]

Oh! I like this! Lovely!

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Thank you :).

[hobbit-kate.livejournal.com]

So... recap. They didn't get it on on New Caprica because there were only five birds?

Lovely drabble. They are so sweet :)

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Stupid birds.

Thanks.

[bsgroxmysox.livejournal.com]

This is sooo nice! I was really hoping there would be 9 of them though ;) LOL

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Well, perhaps he miscounted ;).

[larsfarm77.livejournal.com]

Hee, I was hoping for nine too!

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

LOL, they do deserve it.

[sln1.livejournal.com]

Like most British people of my age I know that rhyme thanks to a children's magazine television programme called 'Magpie' so I've just got a huge wave of nostalgia from this in addition to enjoying the drowsy warmth of this scene between Bill and Laura.

Imaginative use of the prompt. Lovely drabble. Thank you.

Oh, and now I know why the Cylons managed to find them. They didn't salute the magpie to ward off bad luck. My grandmother is spinning in her grave at that lack of foresight on their part!

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Ha, I'm a bit too young for the show but I do remember the rhyme, though I think every Brit does.

Perhaps there should be an extra verse that warns of invading robots.

Thanks for the lovely comment :).

[kastari.livejournal.com]

"One for Sorrow" is a traditional children's nursery rhyme about magpies. According to an old superstition, the number of magpies one sees determines if one will have bad luck or not.

What a wonderful, imaginative use of the poem (counting rhyme). Lots of variations, but I like the one you chose.

Stupid Baltar. *snort* Perfect.

Laura likes five. Very nice touch. And we all know that Bill loves eight & nine & hopes for ten. ♥

What a sweet little scenario. I believe it happened...

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Stupid Baltar. *snort* Perfect. It's a fact that can never be stated enough.

Thank you!

[redrockcan.livejournal.com]

Lovely indeed. It's so great to have them leisurely lying around talking, since they had so much hardship. Love the use of the poem, wonderful images. Extra points for "stupid Baltar". Great work!!

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Thank you. There could have been a whole episode of them just hanging about. No crisis, no Cylons, just talking and doing paper work or something. They would have managed to make even that compelling.

[vash26.livejournal.com]

She's on a roll now, and he finds the way her lips form the words far more interesting.

I love this!

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And the are quite fascinating ;).