Life on Mars Fic: My Favorite Things (Gen)

[chelseagirl]

I wrote this for the 1973flashfic Comfort challenge. Gene, Ray, Annie, Chris, Sam, White Cortina/G rated. 459 words.

We all find comfort in our own ways.

My Favorite Things . . .

Chelseagirl47

Gene

Gene took a pull on his flask, the smooth metal fitting solidly in his hand. The whiskey bit as it went down, its rich, smoky taste filling his throat with its warmth. There was a new Clint Eastwood on at cinema, and this Saturday, he was there. His missus had promised a roast dinner for Sunday lunch, and her mum wouldn’t be coming, for once.

Life could be a lot worse.

Ray

Having paid for his lunch, Ray slipped his wallet back into his pocket, but not before he looked again at the ticket nestled inside. Manchester United always made him feel better. There were no grey areas; no Sam Tyler to throw doubt on the practices of his hero, Gene Hunt.

There was us and them; team songs and camaraderie; a red-and-white scarf to show what side you were on.

Annie

Dad was settled in for the night, and Annie had a few hours to herself. She settled down on the couch with a piece of chocolate cake and a long, cool glass of milk, and opened her book, a favorite since childhood. “There was no possibility of taking a walk that day,” she read. It might be weeks before she had enough free time to get to “Reader, I married him,” and all that followed, but right now she imagined herself sitting with Jane Eyre, reading in the curtained alcove of her aunt’s house.

The past is another country, it’s said, and sometimes that was enough for Annie.

Chris

Don’t lean on me man, ‘cause you can’t afford the ticket,
Back from Suffragette City!

Chris gyrated in front of the mirror, singing into his hairbrush. He was wearing a glittery tanktop his sister had recently discarded, and his hair was brushed up in proper rock star style. If circumstances had been different, he could’ve been another David Bowie, he just knew it.

Maybe someday he’d find a girl who got it. Who really got him.

Oooh, wham, bam, thank you ma’am!

Sam

Sam sat, morosely, in his bedsit, drinking straight from the bottle. He was mad, he was crazy, he was . . . yeah.

He got up and flipped on the telly, almost dreading what he would find there. The Test Card Girl again, or something worse? But what he did find . . . a dashing older man, with a bouffant of white hair, and a natty velvet jacket. He was talking to a couple of men in uniforms, with red berets. A slender girl rushed onscreen with an urgent message.

The Doctor was saving the earth, again, and for the next twenty-five minutes, Sam was back in the happiest moments of his childhood, his troubles forgotten and his drink disregarded on the floor.

Comments

[bakednudel.livejournal.com]

Very nice! loved Sam's comfort, of course... ;)

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Especially for the superfast response! And, yes, Sam's just . . . had to be. (Though I had to search online to confirm it was Three in 1973.)

It felt so good to be writing LoM again. Hopefully there's more in there. ;-)

[space-oddity-75.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, lovely! :)
All the characters are spot-on, and the DW mention is fab!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And thanks for the fast reply! *feels all glowy*

Yeah, Sam's was kinda foreordained from the moment I started playing with the idea. *g*

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I have watched precisely one episode of LoM, but I did enjoy this -- especially the last bit, of course! =)

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Couldn't resist it. ;-)

[wyvernwolf.livejournal.com]

Nice! Loved Annie's comfort and Chris' made me laugh (what a visual that creates), but Sam's was the best of course. :-)

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Couldn't resist doing the Sam one, of course!

I figure if Chris'll go all New Romantic later on, he's gotta have some interest in glam rock. ;-)

[loz]

This is really gorgeous. Sweet, soft and sad, just how I like it.

Oh, Sam. ♥

I also really loved Chris', because, well, I love Chris --- and I could see it.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Chris = Ziggy Stardust. Or he would if there was any justice in the world!

[tinadoll.livejournal.com]

This is just too perfect.

great job!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[duckyone.livejournal.com]

Simply wonderful! I think you have hit them all bang on the head. Of course Gene would think a Sunday roast and no mother-in-law equals perfection and I love the mental image of Chris in front of the mirror.

And Sam is so an old school Doctor Who fan.

Thank you for writing again, you are so good at it.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks -- I had a lot of fun imagining where it was going for each of them.

And of course he is!

[msb66.livejournal.com]

This is great. You got the feel of each character so well.

*Wonders if it is too late to get a LoM icon*

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It is *never* too late -- there are still tons being posted on lifein1973, lifeonicons, and the actors' comms.

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I liked how you've managed to include all of the team, and of course Sam's made me sad and happy all at once. Love Chris's bit the most - bless him in his spangly top :D

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

Yes, now I have Chris gyrating in my head. Somebody get this man a pair of platform shoes, please! ;-)

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

oooo love seeing these moments--even if I don't know the characters very well, they all ring true.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It felt really good to be writing again.

[alizarin-nyc.livejournal.com]

OH WOW!!!

This is made of WIN. So much. I love it. Love it. Annie... perfect. Gene of course, and Ray and HEHEEEE, Chris. AW, Chris, just you wait.

Sam. Finding an old ep of The Doctor. Brilliant. Really clever, you!

I liked very much, can you tell?????? ;)

See you Thurs.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I had so much fun writing it -- so hoping to get back into ficcing mode.

[darketernal09.livejournal.com]

very good. loved the DW!!!!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was a lot of fun to write -- though I did have to double-check online that it was Three in 1973!

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

These were all great. I liked Ray's especially as it shows so much of his character and the image of Chris is enough to make me grin. Thank you.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you mentioned Ray, especially -- everyone else has been singled out by at least one commentator and I was wondering if he rang true to anyone. :-)

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwww! Sam Tyler. How so adorable while so crazy? ;)

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

'Cause that's just the kind of guy he is. ;-)