Ficlets

Too Small A Planet

“There’s still hope,” Matti said. He leaned over the butane bloom at the center of their little cafe table and burned off the tip of a fresh cigarette the color of undyed paper. “Just exported it to Mars is all.”

Gregor rattled half-dead ice cubes around in nicotine-colored scotch water and watched the inverted blue flame at the tail end of the rocket. The jetwash made layer after layer of perfect little upside-down bowls of white smoke. It all vanished into the haze over the city.

Matti exhaled over his shoulder, off the balcony. “Sedina’s up over on Mars, isn’t she?” Matti asked.

Gregor nodded. “Expat,” he said.

“If you’re going to open this bar, you’d need a cook, right?”

“Maybe not that kind of place,” Gregor said. He tried to suck scotch out from around the cubes. “Or maybe nothing that fancy.”

“Okay.”

“Still,” Gregor said, slipping a stirrer into his mouth and chewing. “Hope on Mars, right?”

“Well. They send other stuff up there, too, you know.”

Comments

Average Reader Rating:

Too Small A Planet
Eckhouse
Posted 5 months ago

Great continuation. I like that despite being set in a sci-fi environment, this one (and its predecessor) both read like they’re in the next room. Does that make any sense?
Too Small A Planet
THX 0477
Posted 5 months ago

I think I understood Eckhouse’s comment, and if I did, I agree with it. Casual, no frills, straight forward character interaction with just those little hints that the situation is beyond normal. Nice first foray into the fray of ficlets. Man, what is up with me and alliterations today?!
LoA
Too Small A Planet
Melia
Posted 5 months ago

I thought you kept the spirit of Wil’s story perfectly. Definitely echoing THX ’s comment about your first foray here.
Too Small A Planet
Wil Wheaton
Posted 5 months ago

Really, really, really good. In fact, it’s awesome. I love how you kept their conversation going, and built the world out a little bit, too.

Now I have to figure out WTF is happening on Mars, because now I want to know.
Too Small A Planet
Will Hindmarch
Posted 5 months ago

Thanks everybody! I’m relieved to know that it reads well to other authors.
Too Small A Planet
White Hat
Posted 5 months ago

Awesome.
We need a name for worlds with run-down-feeling casual space travel. Any suggestions?
Too Small A Planet
M. Fotinakis~Η Φοτιςμένη~
Posted 5 months ago

Excellent. You really captured the spirit of Wil’s post and did the mood justice (for great justice!)
Too Small A Planet
Kevin Lawver
Posted 5 months ago

Great sequel, and welcome to ficlets! White Hat, I love the worlds of Firefly, etc, that feel lived in… and yeah, I don’t have a better word for them than that.
Too Small A Planet
.:band baby:.
Posted 5 months ago

Very, very good. Now what happened to their planet, which I’m assuming is Earth, and what is happeneing on Mars…
LoA
Too Small A Planet
stylorouge
Posted 5 months ago

Wow! Great stuff…reminds me of those old Tex Murphy computer games….Anyone? Anyone? Just me?
Too Small A Planet
Jeanne Shade
Posted 5 months ago

V. good continuation of Wil’s story. Love the last line.