Straining numerical titles to the limit...

[ffutures]

Here's another segment of the BtVS / Batman crossover Drabble sequence. Comments please, I'll post to archives later tonight.


100-word BtVS / Angel / DC crossover Drabble. Minor spoilers. Characters are the property of their respective creators and are used without any intention of infringing copyright. This story may not be distributed on a profit-making basis. Sequel to First Contact, Second Thoughts, Third Party, Fourth Possibility, Fifth Ring, Sixth Sense, Seventh Seal, Eighth Avenue, Ninth Symphony, Tenth Hour and Eleventh Commandment.

Twelfth Pair

By Marcus L. Rowland

"Did I bite you?" Oz asks on the fire escape. He's back to his usual size, features still changing, clothes ragged.

"No."

"Good. Lycanthropy's infectious."

"What about vampire bites?"

"No." Faith tosses Oz a T-shirt as they reach the roof, says "Your flies are torn."

"Damn. Twelth pair this year."

"Nothing I haven't seen before. You look kinda ragged too."

Batman's clothes are ripped, Kevlar showing through the tears.

"Got anything in my size?"

"There's a straight line..."

"It can wait. We need to talk."

"That's my line," says a familiar voice. They turn.

Floating in mid-air, Superman's watching them.

Comments

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

Now there's something I didn't even remotely expect. Very nice twist. I have to admit some confusion though, and maybe it's a locality thing, but I'm not familiar with the phrase 'your flies are torn'. Am I missing something? Flies as in zippers? I'm very curious to see what Faith and Bats have to say to each other. Definintely looking forward to future installments.

BTW, absolutely adore your new icon. Just brilliant.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Flies isn't universal? Damn!

Yes, trousers zipper. Okay, have to change that.

As for the icon, it's a real mug. Found it in a charity shop a year or so ago. It's unusually large - holds a full can of soup - and microwave safe. Wish I could find some more like that, it saves a lot of hassle when I feel like soup for supper.

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

Well, I recognized flies as zippers, but wasn't sure how he had flies, as in plural, that were torn. Flies is plural in the American usage, fly is one zipper, flies is many zippers. I was imagining Oz with zipper covered clothing a la the mid eighties. That could be what you intended though, in which case the phrasing is fine.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

For some reason they're plural in England, presumably because there are two halves, as in "Your flies are open".

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

American English simplifies a lot.
Similarly, Americans also say "a scissor" rather than "a pair of scissors", as it's only one object.

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

actually, as an america, I say scissors, even pair of scissors on rare occasions. I don't know anyone that says scissor. Maybe that's a regional thing, because Southern American tends to be a bit more old fashioned in phrasing than anywhere else.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I should have said "A number of...". I know quite a few Americans who can speak perfect English, two or three are even from south of the Mason-Dixon Line. ;o)

However, the scissor usage is even in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, so it can't be that unusual.

The point of my comment was a more general one, anyway. That was just the first that came to my mind.