| Author |
Topic:
Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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UnderCoverJedi
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
12/15/06 3:31pm
Subject:
Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
- Date Edited:
3/18 8:16pm (4 edits total)
Edited By:
UnderCoverJedi
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Title: Never
Author: UnderCoverJedi
Characters: All OCs
Timeframe: Approximately two years post ROTS
Notes: Written for the Simpsons’ Quote Roulette Challenge. My quote was:
"I gave up fame and breakfast for our marriage." -Homer Simpson #11
Never
They sat across the table from each other, a bit more than strangers…but not quite a couple – not anymore. She stared at the way he stirred his caf, wondered when that little habit had become so annoying and could not pinpoint the moment. Then he activated his data pad and perused his schedule for the day. No doubt it would be full of one important meeting after another as he went about the business of serving his Empire.
“What do you have planned today?” he asked at last, his eyes never leaving his precious data pad. It was his duty to ask, and he was a dutiful man. The words were absent-minded, as if he wasn’t there. And he wasn’t, not really. How long had it been since he had truly been there with her? Weeks? Months? Years?
She did not know the answer and that depressed her. There were a lot of things she didn’t know anymore. Sometimes she cared, but most of the time she didn’t. It was easier that way, more comfortable. She wondered if he felt the same way. Did he feel anything at all, wasn’t that really the question?
“Nothing,” she answered. Always nothing. There was nothing to do on Imperial Center it seemed, nothing that held her interest in any case. Nothing that was safe, a voice inside her head whispered.
“That’s good,” he murmured, taking another sip of his caf.
Unable to stand it a moment longer, she surged to her feet. He did not notice. He never did. She moved to the sink and put her dishes there. Later she would have to wash them. At least it would give her something to do, something useful and constructive. It was hard to believe that at one time, she had led a life of service to others, did something worthwhile for the galaxy. Much more than a stack of dishes, something any droid could do. Was she less useful than a droid now? Or more? Did it matter?
“I’ll be off then,” he said, stopping long enough to brush his cool, dry lips across her cheek. He did not notice the tears there.
He never did.
She heard the door close behind him and gave a deep sigh of relief. It pained her to realize that she only knew peace when he was gone. When he was home, she felt as if a dangerous stranger had taken up residence inside her husband’s body, one that could strike at any moment. He had never hit her. No, he would never do that. He was a civilized man, after all.
When she knew he was truly gone, she went into her bedroom and opened that small chest that he did not know existed. It was hers alone, it had belonged to the woman she had once been. The person she would never be again.
Reverently, she opened it and gazed inside, getting a glimpse into another lifetime, another galaxy. There had been no Empire when the objects in this box had been important. No Empire. No silent tears by the sink. No yawning emptiness inside. No awkward silences over their morning meal.
Back then, they had laughed as they ate, giggled as they whispered naughty words to each other. The world had been fresh and exciting then and she had had a purpose. She had served in the Senate, and what an exciting life that had been! Until the Empire of course, until the moment when she had watched democracy die as the faces of those who had been entrusted with guarding it had been transformed by their adoration of its destroyer.
She had walked away from her life that day, walked away from herself in a way.
Then he had gone to serve his Emperor proudly, full of patriotic zeal and a burning desire to bring the gifts of the Empire to every system in the galaxy. And slowly, their morning conversations had grown stilted and uncomfortable, until at last they had fallen silent. The silence grew…and grew…
It was growing still.
The silence grew inside her, and one day, when it was bigger than she was, she would simply disappear. She felt the moment coming, could feel its cold breath on the nape of her neck. The silence was hungry.
Tenderly, she closed the chest, locking the door on her only treasures. Mementos of something lost forever. She found herself kneeling on the floor but could not remember how she had gotten there. There were dishes in the sink that required her attention, but she could not stir herself to get to her feet. The kitchen seemed so very far away and the effort too exhausting.
Tomorrow, she would sit across that table from him and their only companion would be the voracious silence. That silence was the “never” that rang through her head every moment of the day. The never and forever.
Soon, it was time to eat again, but she could not drudge up an appetite. What use was eating? She would still be empty inside. She remained on the floor, letting her mind drift back to happier days when the morning meal had been punctuated by happy laughter and soft kisses that usually turned to lovemaking.
She closed her eyes, immersed herself in those memories. So much better than those dishes in the sink. She just might not do the dishes. He would not notice.
He never did.
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DaenaBenjen42
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
12/15/06 9:56pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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So, so sad... 
Well done on the challenge, UnderCoverJedi. 
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Jade_Max
Registered:
Jun '02
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Date Posted:
12/16/06 1:40am
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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 This was so poignant!
You made me feel for your OC - though a part of me pictures Anakin and Padmé in this.
But this was a lovely responce to your quote! So sad, just heart wrenching to see the difference tow years make - and the feeling of utter uselessness was so palatable I thought I might choke on it - well done!
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You'll Like me when I'm Dead - V/P Dark Drama - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29236355 Don't think, write. And have faith that your subconscious mind is smarter than you.- lazy RIP my little Nibbler
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DancesWithBlasters
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
12/17/06 5:05am
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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Oh wow, that was powerful. That was truly amazing.
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"I want freedom for the full expression of my personality." - M. Ghandi Living with Legends and Creating History: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25880483/p1/?0 Hidden Truths: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25485040/p1/?44
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Healer_Leona
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
12/17/06 8:38am
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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Really all too touching. I feel immense sympathy for the woman. How strange and strained a relationship can get.
Sadly beautiful.
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Still crazy after all these years.
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amidalachick
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
12/17/06 1:02pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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Wow. So powerful, and so sad.
When she knew he was truly gone, she went into her bedroom and opened that small chest that he did not know existed. It was hers alone, it had belonged to the woman she had once been. The person she would never be again.
There's such a feeling of...hopelessness. I wanted to cry for this woman.
Excellent response, UnderCoverJedi!  
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"Love...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
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Jaded_Rose
Registered:
Nov '06
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Date Posted:
12/17/06 9:32pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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That was so gorgeous, and so heartbreaking at the same time. One rarely sees those lives of quiet desperation in the Empire. It's easy to forget that not everyone in it was always that way.
J_Ro
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KELIA
Title: Moderator: Fan Fiction
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
12/18/06 1:03pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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That was beautifully written.
How tragic that serving the Empire would destroy a marriage. Not surprising, though.
Great job on the challenge
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Miana Kenobi
Title: Pacific Region RSA
NSWFF Manager
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
1/29/07 1:12am
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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That was beautiful. Such emotion carried out by the two... So sad.
Great job!
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UnderCoverJedi
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
2/6/07 2:17pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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DaenaBenjen42 Thank you.
Jade_Max I'm honored that you liked it.
DancesWithBlasters Your kind words are much appreciated.
Healer_Leona Isn't that the truth?
amidalachick That's exactly what I wanted to do.
Jaded_Rose Very true. I like the obscure little stories and characters in the GFFA.
KELIA So many outside influences can affect a relationship.
Miana Kenobi Thank you for reading my little work.
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Layren
Registered:
Oct '03
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Date Posted:
2/6/07 2:31pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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Tomorrow, she would sit across that table from him and their only companion would be the voracious silence. That silence was the “never” that rang through her head every moment of the day. The never and forever.
Soon, it was time to eat again, but she could not drudge up an appetite. What use was eating? She would still be empty inside. She remained on the floor, letting her mind drift back to happier days when the morning meal had been punctuated by happy laughter and soft kisses that usually turned to lovemaking.
She closed her eyes, immersed herself in those memories. So much better than those dishes in the sink. She just might not do the dishes. He would not notice.
He never did.
Wow, UnderCoverJedi, that was so incredibly sad and moving. Excellent job with the challenge piece and I've got tears in my eyes from reading that. I could just feel her pain and heartbreak.
Very good work, even if it did break my heart
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ROTSFan
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
3/17/07 11:14pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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 Sounds kind of like Padme and Anakin are drifting apart. I'm just guessing...
Good writing though
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Fics in profile; ask me to unlock ~I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I hoped it would be." - Office Space
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UnderCoverJedi
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
3/18 8:18pm
Subject:
RE: Never - Simpsons' Quotation Roulette Reponse - OCs
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Layren Thank you.
ROTSFan Actually, this vignette featured OCs. No Anakin and Padme. 
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