FIC: The Cargo Pilot's Tale (Valiant Tales)

[lindenharp]

Title: The Cargo Pilot's Tale
Series: Valiant Tales.  Read them in order here.
Rating: G
Characters: The Master (Simm), other characters
Genre: drabble
Spoilers: Minor spoilers for The Sound of Drums and Last of the Time Lords.
Summary: A series of drabbles about the people who lived, worked, and suffered on the Valiant during the Year That Never Was. 100 words according to MS Word.
Disclaimer: The sandbox belongs to RTD and the BBC. I'm just playing here, in the corner, making little sand-TARDISs.

 

My gran was from Devon. I’ve got smuggler’s blood. After every trip Earthside, I bring back news. I don’t carry messages, or mention the Resistance. That would just earn me fifteen minutes of fame on “Morning Execution”. I tell the Londoners Big Ben still rings in his tower. I tell Etienne the trees are green along the Champs Elysees. I don’t mention the Master’s statues on Nelson’s Column and the Arc de Triomphe.

The guards wink at “personal imports”: Moon Pies for Savanna, Jaffa cakes for Bill, turrón for Carmela. They never notice the most dangerous contraband of all: hope.

Comments

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Wow, brilliant as per usual.

(now the awkward bit - what are moon pies and turron?)

[agent-tomato.livejournal.com]

I think this one's my favorite out of all of them. It's amazing how much you can fit into one hundred words.

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

To answer your (perfectly reasonable) question:
Moon pies are popular in the southeast U.S. They are snack cakes made from graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate. Turron is an almond nougat candy from Spain (especially traditional at Christmas).

In other words, he's bringing them treats from home.

[crabby-lioness.livejournal.com]

They never notice the most dangerous contraband of all: hope.

Yes!

[kaffy_r]

This one brought a lump to my throat!

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It is the least angsty of them all.

One of these days, I'll save my first draft (usually 120-150 words) and post it alongside the finished drabble.

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It is a powerful force...

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

I'm glad, since that means it had an emotional impact, but I'm also surprised. Compared to the others, this one is damn near cheerful!

[kaffy_r]

I think it's the dose of defiant hope, (and the character's pure goodness and bravery) that actually brought on the tears.

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

Ah. That makes sense.

[thedivinegoat.livejournal.com]

Jumping in, if your a Brit, Moonpies are Wagon Wheels.

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

German, but close enough - Wagonwheels I know - thanks!