I have been tooling around on DD for a few years now, marvelling at all the comics. I thought now might be my time to contribute, so I am finally hopping over here to the forums. I am not much of an artist, but I write. I did a lot of fanfic, etc. over at the Wizards of the Coast forums, but I am branching out a lot more these days.

I guess, to cut it short, I will post some of my stuff here, since this seems to be the subforum for it.

Thanks,
L

I wrote this about a year ago. I was trying out a few new things, so let me know what you think.


Baby Steps

Eric caught his reflection in the glass as he was digging in his pocket for the keys to the bar. He stood there for a moment, feeling the familiar teeth of the keys and looking at himself. He thought he looked tired.

I need a haircut, don't I.

He had been out of the Marine Corps for just over a year now, but some habits die hard. He felt the late October wind blow through his blonde hair, but in his reflection he thought he saw a woman's hand. He shrugged it off.

This isn't a bad job, but closing time is still my favorite time.

Eric double checked the door and turned to the parking lot. A few of the waitresses were still waiting for him, since they made it a point to walk out together. A few of the women were standing there smoking, their hair tossed around in the wind.

Eric pulled on his knit hat and pushed his hands deep into his pockets, shrugging against the autumn weather.

God, it's cold.

The October wind whistled through his earrings, but at least he had his beanie to keep his head warm, even if it wasn't doing his hair any favors. He pulled his cigarettes out of his pocket and clicked his lighter open, striking the wheel. He touched the flame to the paper and inhaled.

At least the night's over.

He walked over to the girls, and the group started their trek across the parking lot. It always seemed to be a lot farther this time of year.

"'Night, Gina," he said to the raven haired woman to his right, dropping her off at her car. He watched her open the door and climb in. He always felt good making sure the people he worked with were at least safe while he was around. Could be that he was the bouncer, it could be that he had been in the Marines for a few years. Either way, he took it upon himself. Baltimore wasn't the friendliest place in the world, and none of the girls seemed to mind.

As Gina drove off, he walked Kelly over to her small red car. She smiled at him, whispering good night through her chattering teeth.

She should have brought her coat. Just because it was sunny this afternoon; I sound like my mother.

"Are you doing anything Friday, Eric," she asked, her blonde hair blowing as she sat in her car, the door open , blocking the majority of the wind.

Eric stretched his back and shoved his hands further into his pockets, trying to ward off the chill. "I don't have any plans that I can think of."

Her green eyes twinkled. "Call me then, okay?" She shut the door, waved at him, and as an afterthought waved to Kate, the head bartender, who stood smiling at Eric.

Eric watched his smoky breath float off into the yellow illumination of the streetlights, the cloud glowing briefly, before drifting off into the void of the autumn night. He felt Kate's red lips grinning at him and he turned to her.

"What?"

"Nothing, except that I told you she had the hots for you," she smiled, the ring in the center of her pouty lower lip twinkling in the halogen glow. She brushed a hand through her spiky black hair and adjusted her scarf around her neck.

"I thought you had the hots for her," Eric grinned darkly.

Kate laughed musically, walking over to her black Pontiac. "She's cute, but not my type. Call her, Eric. I want to hear more stories from you than just tales of you and your friends playing World of Warcraft, or what you benched at the gym."

Eric blushed in spite of the cold.

"I love you buddy, but your life is teetering on the edge of being tragically boring."

"I know Kate." If you had any idea. "I'm sorry." After what I've been through, I prefer this.

She smiled, and hugged her friend, the tails of her scarf trying to wrap around his bulky frame. "Just call her. I have known you as long as you've worked here. As far as I know you haven't dated anyone in," she paused, waiting for him to answer.

"It's been a while," Eric sighed. He kissed her on the forehead, and leaned back. "I promise I will call Kelly."

"Good," she smiled, reaching up to pull his hat off and ruffle his formerly spiky blond hair. She tossed the hat playfully back to him and climbed into her car. "I will be expecting details."

"Of course."

"Are you gonna play tonight?"

"Probably."

"You are such a dork," she said, sticking her tongue out at him, the barbell glinting under the streetlights.

"I hope we won't be missing our priestess," Eric grinned, "whatever would we do?"

"I know for one that you would be a dead rogue."

"Sorrow is already dead, though."

"You know what I mean," she laughed, lighting a cigarette. "Promise you'll call her?"

"I promise," he muttered, slightly frustrated. He watched her mimic her character's dance, and she climbed into her car. She mouthed 'call her' again before she drove off.

Women.

Eric pulled his cigarettes from his pocket and lit another one, inhaling slowly, the menthol adding to the crispness of the night air. He scanned the parking lot, trying to remember which light he had parked under. Even empty, it could still take a while to find vehicles out here. He pulled out his keys and began walking, pressing the unlock button on his keyring repeatedly until he saw headlights flash.

Finally. I hate this parking lot. I need to get to work earlier so I can get a better space.

Eric pulled his sleeve back and looked at his watch.

Two a.m. I bet the raid started already. At least the lot is mostly empty this time of night. You would think I could find my car more easily.

When he got to work that day, the lot was nearly full, as it always was. He turned towards his car, thinking about possibly telling Kate why he hadn't dated in a long time.

Two years. Almost two years since that fucking day in Iraq.

He pondered how he always thought about it like that, even though he hadn't set foot in Iraq. "That day in Iraq." He had done his time in Afghanistan, but his fiance had been in Iraq. She had died in Iraq too. It had taken him a long time to pick up the pieces of his life, partially because he was constantly reminded he had a job to do.

Mostly because it takes a long time to recover from shit like that. God, I miss you baby.

His eyes drifted up to the sky as they always did when he thought of her. Somehow the twinkling stars made him feel like she was watching.

I know you're watching.

He dropped the butt of his cigarette, and ground it out with the toe of his Doc Marten's.

Just like that, and the lights go out.

He shut the car door, and rested his head on the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening as tears rolled down his face.

I know you'd want me to move on, but how can I?

"Of course I do baby. I hate seeing you like this."

He looked up, shock in his bloodshot, green eyes. He saw her drift across the hood of his car. She stood in front of him, her blond hair flowing against the wind.

"Jaime," he said out loud. Oh man, I'm losing it again!

She drifted closer, and he felt warmth on his lips. He leaned back in is seat, holding his forehead, and sobbed.

"Move on Eric. Don't give up on life. I know you could never forget me, but you can't let my memory keep you from living. I hate seeing you like this. Our time together was perfect, remember those times instead."

Eric wiped his eyes and breathed deeply, hitting the button to lower his driver's side window. He lit another cigarette and put his car into drive. He held his foot on the brake pedal for a while, composing himself. He looked around the parking lot. He was alone again.

Baby steps.

Feel free to reply to anything I post, I would be happy to hear what you all think.
I will post more of my stuff as I get it edited.

Very nice. Maybe if you can't draw you should get an artist who could help you make a comic out of your stories?

Just a couple things, though.
a)I think he lit too many cigarettes. How does he finish them off that fast?
b)I might be wrong, but I kind of think it would be better with the dead wife saying only the first part, instead of continuing on after the kiss.