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fandomweekly2016-02-04 05:17 pm
cybra) wrote in fandomweekly2016-02-04 05:17 pm
Entry tags:
[#001] Walker (Original)
Theme Prompt: [001] New Beginnings
Title: Walker
Fandom: Sparks Online (Original)
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: No
Word Count: 905
Summary: Jeremy had been expecting this for years, and his future starts today.
It happened on the first of the month, the morning of his eighteenth birthday.
“You’re no longer welcome in this family,” his father told him imperiously. “Gather your things and go.”
Jeremy didn’t even bother to look to his mother for help; he knew she’d have the same cold look on her face. He’d proven himself to be a disgrace to their family from the moment he was born. After all, he had no Spark nor did he ever develop one, and, therefore, he was unworthy to bear their name. The twenty-first day of December 2012 would be upon them in a little more than a decade, so it was even more important to purge the family of any lingering Sparkless.
He’d known since the age of ten when his parents had showered praise on his elder siblings and had paid him little mind that he was doomed. Older cousins had told him horror stories of those born into the family without a Spark having to strike it out on their own once the law said their parents no longer had to be responsible for them. The moment his parents had retracted their affections was when he’d known he’d been disowned in all but name.
So he’d planned. Though Jeremy lacked a Spark, he had an abundance of brainpower. He’d prepared for today, knowing his family would send him off with the basic tools to get started and nothing else. These basics he packed away now: basic toiletries, clothing, a few books on programming, and an off-the-shelf laptop computer. Before he zipped up the large rolling suitcase, he paused, eyes falling on a well-loved stuffed Dalmatian whose fur had long since changed from white to gray. Glancing at his parents who eyed him as if he were an unwanted guest in their home, he walked over and picked up the plush dog, placing it in his suitcase. A child’s toy it may have been, but it was the one thing he couldn’t use that also he couldn’t bear to leave behind. His parents didn’t object.
His father held out a thick envelope to him: his college fund in cash. Ten years ago it would’ve covered quite a number of schools. Unfortunately, college only got exponentially more expensive as time went on. However, the career he’d chosen for himself valued practical experience and hard work more than a fancy piece of paper; he could use the funds to eat and find a place to stay instead.
His father then handed over a second smaller envelope with a few extra dollars, prompting him to look curiously at the man.
“Use that to change your name.”
Jeremy saw red and almost sarcastically asked what the man would do if he chose not to but held his tongue. Even if he kept the family name, he wouldn’t be acknowledged by them, after all. Instead he nodded his head in understanding.
“Thank you for everything,” he said with forced politeness.
With that, he started to walk down the familiar hallway to the front door. The large building was old and in dire need of repair due to the fact that his family’s fortunes had declined over the centuries. For while The Spark was important to them, the rest of the world had forgotten it.
It would be forced to remember soon enough.
He held his head high and looked straight ahead. He refused to break down and plead like he’d seen his cousin Rae do. He wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of him begging to be kept on as a servant or any other menial task. He had a plan and he was going to use it to show them that they’d made a monumental mistake.
His sister and brother watched him, his sister averting her eyes while his brother blinked rapidly in order to hide the way his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Jeremy offered them a small smile before he exited the house, shutting the front door behind himself.
He kept walking out past the front gate and down the road. As he walked towards the courthouse, he knew exactly who he was going to be next.
It took eight years to the day, eight years of hard work until achieving overwhelming success, but as he walked back towards the manor house, there was a spring in his step.
His father opened the front door, glaring at him.
“I’ve come to collect my property,” Jeremy said cheerily. He motioned to the movers behind him. “If you’d be so kind as to stand aside?”
“You stole them.”
“I paid off your family’s debts and for the renovations on this old house. In return, my library gains the contents of yours. Fair’s fair.”
“No, you stole our secrets and sold them.”
“I made a game with them, and a lot of people bought it. Some of whom will be very glad they did in the next few years. Now if you don’t mind, I want my books.”
The man stepped to one side, and Jeremy motioned for the movers to head inside. He followed behind them.
He didn’t even pause as his father snapped, “Those books rightfully belong to us, Jeremy.”
Without looking back, he said, “That’s too familiar, sir. I’d prefer you call me by my last name…” He looked over his shoulder, pulling back his lips enough to bare his teeth in a wolfish grin. “…‘Walker’.”
Title: Walker
Fandom: Sparks Online (Original)
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: No
Word Count: 905
Summary: Jeremy had been expecting this for years, and his future starts today.
It happened on the first of the month, the morning of his eighteenth birthday.
“You’re no longer welcome in this family,” his father told him imperiously. “Gather your things and go.”
Jeremy didn’t even bother to look to his mother for help; he knew she’d have the same cold look on her face. He’d proven himself to be a disgrace to their family from the moment he was born. After all, he had no Spark nor did he ever develop one, and, therefore, he was unworthy to bear their name. The twenty-first day of December 2012 would be upon them in a little more than a decade, so it was even more important to purge the family of any lingering Sparkless.
He’d known since the age of ten when his parents had showered praise on his elder siblings and had paid him little mind that he was doomed. Older cousins had told him horror stories of those born into the family without a Spark having to strike it out on their own once the law said their parents no longer had to be responsible for them. The moment his parents had retracted their affections was when he’d known he’d been disowned in all but name.
So he’d planned. Though Jeremy lacked a Spark, he had an abundance of brainpower. He’d prepared for today, knowing his family would send him off with the basic tools to get started and nothing else. These basics he packed away now: basic toiletries, clothing, a few books on programming, and an off-the-shelf laptop computer. Before he zipped up the large rolling suitcase, he paused, eyes falling on a well-loved stuffed Dalmatian whose fur had long since changed from white to gray. Glancing at his parents who eyed him as if he were an unwanted guest in their home, he walked over and picked up the plush dog, placing it in his suitcase. A child’s toy it may have been, but it was the one thing he couldn’t use that also he couldn’t bear to leave behind. His parents didn’t object.
His father held out a thick envelope to him: his college fund in cash. Ten years ago it would’ve covered quite a number of schools. Unfortunately, college only got exponentially more expensive as time went on. However, the career he’d chosen for himself valued practical experience and hard work more than a fancy piece of paper; he could use the funds to eat and find a place to stay instead.
His father then handed over a second smaller envelope with a few extra dollars, prompting him to look curiously at the man.
“Use that to change your name.”
Jeremy saw red and almost sarcastically asked what the man would do if he chose not to but held his tongue. Even if he kept the family name, he wouldn’t be acknowledged by them, after all. Instead he nodded his head in understanding.
“Thank you for everything,” he said with forced politeness.
With that, he started to walk down the familiar hallway to the front door. The large building was old and in dire need of repair due to the fact that his family’s fortunes had declined over the centuries. For while The Spark was important to them, the rest of the world had forgotten it.
It would be forced to remember soon enough.
He held his head high and looked straight ahead. He refused to break down and plead like he’d seen his cousin Rae do. He wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of him begging to be kept on as a servant or any other menial task. He had a plan and he was going to use it to show them that they’d made a monumental mistake.
His sister and brother watched him, his sister averting her eyes while his brother blinked rapidly in order to hide the way his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Jeremy offered them a small smile before he exited the house, shutting the front door behind himself.
He kept walking out past the front gate and down the road. As he walked towards the courthouse, he knew exactly who he was going to be next.
It took eight years to the day, eight years of hard work until achieving overwhelming success, but as he walked back towards the manor house, there was a spring in his step.
His father opened the front door, glaring at him.
“I’ve come to collect my property,” Jeremy said cheerily. He motioned to the movers behind him. “If you’d be so kind as to stand aside?”
“You stole them.”
“I paid off your family’s debts and for the renovations on this old house. In return, my library gains the contents of yours. Fair’s fair.”
“No, you stole our secrets and sold them.”
“I made a game with them, and a lot of people bought it. Some of whom will be very glad they did in the next few years. Now if you don’t mind, I want my books.”
The man stepped to one side, and Jeremy motioned for the movers to head inside. He followed behind them.
He didn’t even pause as his father snapped, “Those books rightfully belong to us, Jeremy.”
Without looking back, he said, “That’s too familiar, sir. I’d prefer you call me by my last name…” He looked over his shoulder, pulling back his lips enough to bare his teeth in a wolfish grin. “…‘Walker’.”
no subject
"I prefer 'Walker'. 'Jeremy' is the name my father gave me. 'Walker' is the name I chose."
Glad you liked it!