bibliodragon: (Princess and the Frog)
bibliodragon ([personal profile] bibliodragon) wrote2010-09-09 01:33 pm

Ficlet: Seven for a Secret Never to be Told

Title: Seven for a Secret Never to be Told
Author: [livejournal.com profile] bibliodragon
Rating: Gen
Spoilers: New Caprica
Word Count: 300

For [livejournal.com profile] 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."

[identity profile] kastari.livejournal.com 2010-09-09 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"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...

[identity profile] bibliodragon.livejournal.com 2010-09-09 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Stupid Baltar. *snort* Perfect. It's a fact that can never be stated enough.

Thank you!