On the fourth day of Christmas...

[sunhawk16]

You know... sometimes, I'm really not all that bright... I just realized that this stuff gets shorter and lamer as I go. Should have saved some of the actual substance stuff for later in the week. Ah, hind-sight...
A note here... for the rest of this week, these posts will happen in the evening as I gotta go back to work tomorrow. Bummer.
Another vignette for today... a tiny one, and just for a complete change of pace... Quatre POV!



It is sometimes a frustrating thing that my friends seldom remember the resources I can bring to bear on a problem, at the same time that it’s nice that they don’t think of me as nothing but a resource.

There are enough people in the world trying to take advantage of me just because of who I am and what I control, so I do appreciate when someone doesn’t see me as a walking dollar sign.

But there are days I want to climb up on my desk and shout at the lot of them. Sometimes they just make things so difficult for themselves for reasons that are just… beyond me.

Case in point; Heero Yuy is planning on taking Duo Maxwell to L2 for Christmas. Wonderful, sweet, lovely thing. With more complications than you can shake a stick at. Starting with ‘last minute plan’ and ending with ‘vacuum phobia’. And he even calls us. But why does he call us? Does it occur to him that Winner Enterprises has in its employ, has under contract, or flat out owns more shuttles than most small countries?

No… he wants us to bring in his mail.

I listened to Trowa talk to him on the phone… listened to them chit chat and exchange pleasantries… and imagined kicking off my shoes, climbing up on my desk, jumping up and down and screaming my frustration to the ceiling.

But I only imagined doing so, because Trowa would just laugh at me, and then he would make me tell him just why I was so frustrated, and then… he would get that little smile. That sweet, understanding, wise-beyond-his-years one that just makes me want to dump something cold and wet over his head.

Because he understands them when they won’t ask for my help and I… just don’t.

What is all that stupid money and power for if I can’t abuse it now and again for the sake of my friends?

So I kept my shoes on and stayed in my seat and I think I even managed to keep an expression on my face that was simple interest.

I could tell the conversation was winding down, so I waved to get Trowa’s attention.

‘What flight are they on?’ I asked breezily. ‘I’ll put the flight schedule in my calendar.’

Trowa didn’t hesitate to relay the information and I smiled. Maybe they wouldn’t let me supply the shuttle for them, but I knew Duo… he’d want some privacy for this; it was going to be rough.

I could hardly ask for seat numbers without arousing suspicion, but there couldn’t be that many reservations for two seats together… I’d just buy all the available seats around all of them, just to be on the safe side.

This helping out business would just be so much easier if they’d only learn to ask.

Comments

[petenshi.livejournal.com]

*claps* I hadn't even read this before making my previous comment about Quatre! You're amazing! It might be a bit short but it captures so much! I really got his frustration, so the end when he comes up with his solution is very satisfying. :) Poor dear, Quatre. So misunderstood and underutilized. lol...

Just realized what trip this is! Oh man, I bet they're going to wish they'd asked Quatre for a shuttle. Hindsight and all that, huh?

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

And Quatre will NEVER say 'If only you'd asked...' because they just might kill him! ^o^ Poor, sad rich kid... he just wants to help and nobody remembers that he controls half the known universe. *snort*

[t-shirt1x2.livejournal.com]

ha! I knew it! There was a guardian angel!....just not exactly the one I imagined lol so cool! it's the little things...er...or something lol *pats Quatre's head*

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I actually had that in mind when I wrote that part, but didn't have any way of conveying it since it was one of those things nobody will ever know. *griiiiin*

[t-shirt1x2.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it didn't fit because it made for a most excellent vignette...bravo! *claps*

[pellsfan.livejournal.com]

Oh I had to laugh and/or smile all the way through this. I can just see Quatre jumping up and down on his desk, screaming while he dumps ice water over Trowa's head.

I'm rather surprised that he didn't try to buy the entire shuttle the guys were on.

[rurounitriv.livejournal.com]

LOL, it wouldn't surprise me if he owned the company that flies the shuttle already.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Well, he DID have to be at least a little bit subtle. Doesn't want to be accused of being a buttinski or anything. *grin*

[rurounitriv.livejournal.com]

He looks so sweet and innocent, hardly anyone realizes how devious he really is. Nice end-run, Quatre.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

He WILL have his way one way or the other! ^o^

[weebesom88.livejournal.com]

Haha that was awesome! I don't know whether you think these fillers in later or whether they're discarded scenes because of the Duo POV but I like to think the latter. So gosh darned awesome ;)

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

This one was actually in the back of my mind during the writing of the original, but that's one of the limitations when you stick with one POV. And some of it has been stuff I just couldn't fit in. And there's a thing or two I thought up after the fact. Hopefully, I won't trip over my own continuity at some point. >_>

[trixie-chick.livejournal.com]

poor quatre, so sweet, so loving, just lacking a tiny aspect of understanding, but it's not really his fault... meanwhile, heero and duo are going to get on the plane, and while they'll appreciate how much space they have, they'll be a little freaked out that there's hardly anyone on that flight. ^_^

♥ it doesn't matter how short or "lame" it is, putting something out every day like this is amazing and we're all VERY appreciative!!!

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Hey... how many people would actually WANT to go to L2 for the holidays? *griiiin*

Well, it would be more amazing if I didn't take months to get ready and wasn't still relying on dialogue fics for the half of it. >_>

[lavendarlizard.livejournal.com]

You are posting *every* *damn* *day*! That makes anything *awesome*! ^___^

I have so been waiting for Q to get his chance. Maybe next year he'll offer a shuttle and they'll accept. ^__o

btw, box! Box!!! ^_____^

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking eventually Duo will have enough money that he'll just skip the trip and have the kids shipped in! ^o^ Ok... maybe not.
Boxen!! And even on time this year!

[klingonpoo.livejournal.com]

Considering how that shuttle flight went, I bet they wished they had asked! This is lovely. It is fun seeing what the other guys are thinking. I just adore Quatre in this. The last line made me laugh. Poor Quatre!

Thanks Sunhawk! I enjoyed this a lot! I also don't consider it lame. These Ion Vignettes are a treat and I look forward to more! *hugs*

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

The other guys have been kind of vocal since they were sort of stifled through the series! :D Glad you are enjoying!

[marasmine.livejournal.com]

Quality over quantity! I'll go for the royal 'we' and say we appreciate you posting anything!

I think this is my favourite Christmas tradition and sets me off on a GW reading spree to keep away the horrors of the season (but the cards are finally done, just need a trip to the post office tomorrow to be rid of them).

Loved the mental image of Quatre (without shoes - such a wonderful detail) jumping up and down on his desk screaming because they don't want his money. And Trowa's anticipated smirk with the solution of dumping cold, wet something over Trowa's head. Would that be champagne? Or iced tea?

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure Quatre would care just what he was dumping as long as it wiped that look off of Trowa's face! ^o^
And yay for anything that staves off the horrors of the season, because they are many and varied... >_>

[(Anonymous)]

routhier says:

if quatre needs to spoil someone, i am right here. (*holds out hand*)

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I can put your application in... you DO have it in triplicate, right? :D

[(Anonymous)]

routhier says:

inexplicably, we use both fax machines and carbon paper at my new job, so... yes. i can get it to him in triplicate, sad as it may be.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Carbon paper? I had to explain to my kid what that was not all that long ago. O_o

[t-shirt1x2.livejournal.com]

*snicker*

[kracken.livejournal.com]

Short, but very sweet. I had to go re-read that part.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

This one was actually intended from the beginning. It was nice to finally let poor Quatre have his say! ^o^

[ryuuseigun.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved this. Made me smile and made my day.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Quatre is just a little ray of sunshine! ^o^

[okaasan59.livejournal.com]

LOL, Quatre is the master of stealth help!

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Since his stubborn friends won't seem to take help any other way! :D

[sharibet.livejournal.com]

Loving these Ion vignettes--yesterday's (Heero and Trowa) was delightful, and I adored this one, too. Thanks for the goodies--this time of year, I'm so busy that I can't even think about writing, so I admire you for having both the fortitude and the inspiration to give us these gifts.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Oh, the writing part is (mostly) done ahead or there ain't no way there would even be this much lame! ^o^

[ronin101.livejournal.com]

I love your Ion Vignettes, especially from Trowa or Quatre's POV. Wufei was so intensely involved in the early stages of Duo's recovery that I have a descent sense of him in my head but Q&T...I really appreciate each and every bit of interaction you share! <3

After you first vignettes, years ago, I went back and thought about the scene where Duo meets Trowa at the ice cream shop...that had so many emotional nuances my mind imploded a little. I can only imagine Trowa trying to help Quatre process that night later. Duo's friendship with Quatre is so complex, energy exhausting for Duo (and Q?), learning more about how Q thinks of them (Like his insight about the bed) is fascinating.

So...not lame! And this was the perfect length for what needed to be said ^_^

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I have to kind of be careful with Quatre... I didn't have a great handle on him to start with, and I think his character is a bit uneven through the series. I'm chalking it up to Duo's perceptions. >_> *cough* I had a better idea of who I wanted him to be by the end, but it doesn't always mesh with the early parts. I do plan on revisiting all of them from time to time. ^^;

[merula31]

Poor Quatre- I so do feel for him- I think I'd hand him the big cold glass of water for the dumping. :) But how very like Q to sneak around them all anyway! Loved it!

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I will help, by god, or I will know the reason why! ^o^

[merula31]

And then yesterday I was reading the last part of Ion and realized he'd done it again! The Branigans said they were making those runs before Duo even tried to talk to Q at the game! Which is of course how Q already knew about them! You are sooooo good at this!!!

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Kind of comes off as a buttinski! ^o^ I try to weave that stuff in as I go, but sometimes I trip myself up too... couple of things I've caught that are a liiiiittle bit out of synch! ^o^

[waterlilylf.livejournal.com]

Oh, Quatre! I think the funniest part is him taking his shoes off BEFORE getting on to the desk..It's just so polite and proper and of course he wouldn't want to scuff the lovely wood or whatever!

I feel pretty sorry for Quatre in ION; he and Duo were so close in the war episodes, he must have thought he had a close friend for life, and then, they just fall out of touch,and never get that closeness back and there's no real reason, just them both getting on with very different lives. ANd it must be unbearably frustrating, knowing he has the resources to fix so many things, but Duo never letting him..and actively seeking out Trowa as a confidante instead, and Quat just not understanding why!

Anyway, it was great seeing his perspective for once, and his behind-the-scenes helping - smart guy, caring so much about his friends...loved it to bits!

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

He's just so very thoughtful, even when he's ranting and raving! ^o^ Poor Quatre got the short end of the stick, and it was probably partly due to the fact that I don't think I write him very well. And I was even worse back in the early days. I just have a hard time getting my head around a character that apologizes and then blows you to kingdom come. *snort* I think that relationship will heal as time goes by... especially if Duo ever gets to a point where he can pay him back for some of what Quatre has done for him. The imbalance makes Duo uncomfortable.

[jane-somebody.livejournal.com]

Okay, so only now am I finding the time to actually properly get round to these. I did very briefly glance at some of them earlier, though, but it's only now that I'm going through properly that it finally dawned on me. I might be a bit slow, but I see what you did there! Trowa vignette on the 3rd day, Quatre vignette on the 4th day - nicely done :-) Loved both pieces, as well :-)

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I did? I mean... of course I did! *cough* >_>

[yen420.livejournal.com]

I have been on hiatus from reading fiction for a while but when I do, first thing I read is one of yours ^^ I think this is like the nth time I have re-read the whole Ion Arc, from start to finish!! Seriously. BUT, this is the only time I have been updated with the vignette. And am glad to read this one. Glad to finally understand why that shuttle has fewer people on board considering it's Christmas and conveniently no where near Heero and Duo :D Go Quatre!!! I have a soft spot for Blondie *lol*

Thanks again for this Hon. Now, were is that last Vignette, the one where Heero caught an amateur thief... read it in Dacia or was it Kracken's site... Oh well, a question, when Heero said GAME OVER, just what did he mean? Glared till the poor guy learned his lesson? Or just broken a bone or two?

You know, I wish there's a continuation but, the Vignette's are nice. I get a glimpse on Heero and Duo's life.

Thanks again!!! Now on to Road Trip. Speaking of which, care to continue that one?

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

Hiatus? And you came back for little ol' me? :D I won't say never, because... heck; I swore I wasn't running two series at the same time back when I started this darn thing, but I dunno... I thought the last chapter was kind of boring. I don't want to drag this thing out until it falls asleep. *snort* Besides, these vignettes don't take years to come out!
I see you found the Bizzaro World installment.... *griiiiiiin*
I did have plans to get back to work on Road Trip, but it' just so very dated now... it's hard to get back into that world without getting a bit embarrassed over some of the early parts. >_> I was such a newb...