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fandomweekly2019-02-04 08:26 pm
canadiandiamond) wrote in fandomweekly2019-02-04 08:26 pm
Entry tags:
[#005] Shit Luck (Original)
Theme Prompt: #005 - Long Shot
Title: Shit Luck
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG, for swearing
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 911
Summary: Frank has a problem, and so does Linda. One of them finally comes up with a solution.
Frank pulled the lever.
The lights flashed and rolled before him at a dizzying speed, the only bright source of light in the intentionally dimly lit alcove where the bar’s video lottery terminals were situated.
In his head he knew why it was designed that way: no one could if it was day or night, or how long you’d been playing the damned things. Just like he knew the flashy graphics and arcade noises treated him like a child, were meant to distract him and to keep him playing, keep him spending dollar after dollar.
It worked like a charm, and he hated it. Not enough to stop, he chided himself, as he took another swig of his nearly empty beer. Frank suppressed a belch as he laid the bottle back down next to its three empty brothers, then pulled the lever again.
“For Christ’s sake, Frank, it’s not even eleven in the morning.”
He turned and saw Linda standing there, leaning against the wall opposite him. What’s she doing here? he thought.
“I thought you were just going out to get us some coffee,” she added, eyebrows raised.
Shit shit shit. “Oh yeah, right, the coffee. I was, I was, it’s just that, well.” Frank gestured to the machine, as if she hadn’t picked up on the reason he was there. “No one was playing it and it’s gotta pay out every so often, you know that. I’m this close to getting it, it won’t take long, I promise.”
“You left the room at 8:30.” Linda sighed, shaking her head, the light brown curls of her shoulder length hair bouncing off her shoulders. “I fell back asleep and almost missed the check out time.”
“I thought check out time was noon?” he said, looking for a window to peer across the street at the motel where they’d stayed last night before remembering the room design again. “Shit, I’m sorry, Linda.”
“You’re always sorry, Frank.” She crossed her arms and sighed. “I’ve packed up your things for you.” Linda nudged her foot at a beat up piece of luggage next to her on the floor.
“Okay, thanks hon. I’ll be right out as soon as I finish this,” he said. Frank swivelled back on his barstool and pulled the lever again. Come on, for fuck’s sake.
“You don’t understand.” Linda kicked the bag again, a little more forcefully this time. “These are your things here. Mine are in the car.”
“Stop kidding around,” he said and chuckled. “Seriously, it won’t be much longer now, and with the money I’ll win we can maybe even stay in one place for a week or two. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“I can’t keep doing this. We can’t keep doing this, Frank. It’s no life, not for me. Not for us.” She reached into her pocket, then hesitated, waiting for a reaction.
“I know, you’re sick of me losing all the time. I’ve been on a horrible run lately, just shit luck, I know.” He reached out and took another swig of his beer, then placed it back, never even looked in her direction. “But it’s gonna turn around, you wait and see, baby.” Two bells last time, so goddamn close. He pulled the lever.
Linda forced a laugh, then shook her head again. “I should have told you a long time ago.” Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. “I had my suspicions but I thought you’d change, I thought…” Even if she’d been speaking louder, Linda knew she was likely only talking to herself at any rate.
“Listen, here, go order us some lunch and I’ll be right there,” Frank said. He reached for his wallet, opening it only to see it was empty.
“You took my cash before you left,” Linda stated matter-of-factly. “From my purse, on the nightstand. I saw but I didn’t say anything, I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve got a credit card, yeah? Use that then, and I’ll join you in a few. You know what I like,” he added. “Whatever you want.” He turned back and pulled the lever again.
“Whatever I want,” echoed Linda. She pulled out a small stick from her pocket, tapping it against the base of her palm. “I think I know what I want.” Linda tossed the stick into the trash can next to the terminal and turned to leave. “Good bye, Frank.”
“Wait, where’d you say you were going to eat?” Frank yelled out. He remained in his chair, looked into the trash can for a moment, then turned his attention back to the machine. Only a few places to eat here, he reasoned, I’ll find her in a bit. She don’t understand, I’m due to get lucky soon, any time now.
He pulled the lever again. This time when the flashing lights came to a halt, a row of cherries stretched across the screen, followed shortly after by a victorious chime and the clatter clatter clang of coins being spat out of the chute below.
“About time,” Frank exclaimed, bending down to scoop up his winnings. He knocked over the trash can in his excitement, sending the pregnancy test across the bar tiles until the banged against his packed bag.
He didn’t see the little plus sign staring up at him from the dirty floor.
He didn’t ever see Linda again.
Title: Shit Luck
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG, for swearing
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 911
Summary: Frank has a problem, and so does Linda. One of them finally comes up with a solution.
Frank pulled the lever.
The lights flashed and rolled before him at a dizzying speed, the only bright source of light in the intentionally dimly lit alcove where the bar’s video lottery terminals were situated.
In his head he knew why it was designed that way: no one could if it was day or night, or how long you’d been playing the damned things. Just like he knew the flashy graphics and arcade noises treated him like a child, were meant to distract him and to keep him playing, keep him spending dollar after dollar.
It worked like a charm, and he hated it. Not enough to stop, he chided himself, as he took another swig of his nearly empty beer. Frank suppressed a belch as he laid the bottle back down next to its three empty brothers, then pulled the lever again.
“For Christ’s sake, Frank, it’s not even eleven in the morning.”
He turned and saw Linda standing there, leaning against the wall opposite him. What’s she doing here? he thought.
“I thought you were just going out to get us some coffee,” she added, eyebrows raised.
Shit shit shit. “Oh yeah, right, the coffee. I was, I was, it’s just that, well.” Frank gestured to the machine, as if she hadn’t picked up on the reason he was there. “No one was playing it and it’s gotta pay out every so often, you know that. I’m this close to getting it, it won’t take long, I promise.”
“You left the room at 8:30.” Linda sighed, shaking her head, the light brown curls of her shoulder length hair bouncing off her shoulders. “I fell back asleep and almost missed the check out time.”
“I thought check out time was noon?” he said, looking for a window to peer across the street at the motel where they’d stayed last night before remembering the room design again. “Shit, I’m sorry, Linda.”
“You’re always sorry, Frank.” She crossed her arms and sighed. “I’ve packed up your things for you.” Linda nudged her foot at a beat up piece of luggage next to her on the floor.
“Okay, thanks hon. I’ll be right out as soon as I finish this,” he said. Frank swivelled back on his barstool and pulled the lever again. Come on, for fuck’s sake.
“You don’t understand.” Linda kicked the bag again, a little more forcefully this time. “These are your things here. Mine are in the car.”
“Stop kidding around,” he said and chuckled. “Seriously, it won’t be much longer now, and with the money I’ll win we can maybe even stay in one place for a week or two. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“I can’t keep doing this. We can’t keep doing this, Frank. It’s no life, not for me. Not for us.” She reached into her pocket, then hesitated, waiting for a reaction.
“I know, you’re sick of me losing all the time. I’ve been on a horrible run lately, just shit luck, I know.” He reached out and took another swig of his beer, then placed it back, never even looked in her direction. “But it’s gonna turn around, you wait and see, baby.” Two bells last time, so goddamn close. He pulled the lever.
Linda forced a laugh, then shook her head again. “I should have told you a long time ago.” Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. “I had my suspicions but I thought you’d change, I thought…” Even if she’d been speaking louder, Linda knew she was likely only talking to herself at any rate.
“Listen, here, go order us some lunch and I’ll be right there,” Frank said. He reached for his wallet, opening it only to see it was empty.
“You took my cash before you left,” Linda stated matter-of-factly. “From my purse, on the nightstand. I saw but I didn’t say anything, I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve got a credit card, yeah? Use that then, and I’ll join you in a few. You know what I like,” he added. “Whatever you want.” He turned back and pulled the lever again.
“Whatever I want,” echoed Linda. She pulled out a small stick from her pocket, tapping it against the base of her palm. “I think I know what I want.” Linda tossed the stick into the trash can next to the terminal and turned to leave. “Good bye, Frank.”
“Wait, where’d you say you were going to eat?” Frank yelled out. He remained in his chair, looked into the trash can for a moment, then turned his attention back to the machine. Only a few places to eat here, he reasoned, I’ll find her in a bit. She don’t understand, I’m due to get lucky soon, any time now.
He pulled the lever again. This time when the flashing lights came to a halt, a row of cherries stretched across the screen, followed shortly after by a victorious chime and the clatter clatter clang of coins being spat out of the chute below.
“About time,” Frank exclaimed, bending down to scoop up his winnings. He knocked over the trash can in his excitement, sending the pregnancy test across the bar tiles until the banged against his packed bag.
He didn’t see the little plus sign staring up at him from the dirty floor.
He didn’t ever see Linda again.
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