Another WIP meme

[john_amend_all]

Memed, as ever, from thisbluespirit:

Post a line or snippet from each of your fannish works in progress, and invite people to ask questions about them.

As usual, there's no guarantee that any of the WIPs on this list will be completed.

1. "We could just wait until something shows up," Jamie said. "Ye ken, some beautiful lass who needs our help to save her from the villain who's posing as her guardian."

   "I think you've been watching too many Penelope Pitstop cartoons," Isobel said.

   "What d'ye mean? Penelope Pitstop's a real lass. I've met her."

2. Lucie said the first thing that came into her head. "Secretary. To a doctor."

   "That's interesting. A confidential secretary?"

   "The confidentiallest. Why are you so interested in what I do, anyway?"

3. "Why? Whatever happened last time?"

   "Victoria sang Banned From Skaro," Samantha said triumphantly. "All of it. With the gestures."

   "I remember that," Zoe said. "I thought the verse about the 'proper cool librarian' was slanderous."

   Isobel shook her head. "Beg to differ. It was hilarious. Especially the bit where you— where she couldn't sit down for the next week. No, the verse that needs to go is the one about the photographic lady."

   "That was the best one!" Jamie protested.

4. The Doctor shook his head. "Probably not. If there's still power for the lights, there ought to be at least basic life support, too. Given the time period we're in, I expect there's an auxiliary gravitonic battery; those can last for decades." Deliberately, he began flicking switches on the TARDIS console. "Yes, Jenny, I think we could certainly take a closer look."

5. "That Babs." Zoe's two syllables carried enough contempt to implode a medium-sized comet. "The way she talked about feminism. She seems to think we're all evil man-hating lesbians with hairy legs who go about attacking people on a whim."

   Isobel squeezed her shoulder. "Don't let her get to you. You know she's completely wrong. I mean, your legs aren't hairy at all."

6. It was only after the call had finished that I realised Zoe had said 'us', rather than 'me', and started wondering who else was along for the trip. The short notice made me more certain than ever that this wasn't anything to do with her experiments in dangerous sports. Quite apart from asking me to bring a trowel; I'm nearly sure there isn't any such thing as extreme gardening.

7. He unlocked the ancient lock, then pressed his thumb to the scanner and opened the door. The room inside appeared to be a bedroom, now partly dismantled. Dustsheets covered the furniture and a painting on the wall.

   Mr Julius closed the door, crossed to the covered painting, and turned to face us.

   "This is the Grey Lady," he said.

   I felt the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. It was foolish, but I half-expected something to jump out of the frame at us the moment the sheet was pulled off. Then, with a sudden jerk, the dustsheet fell away, and we saw the painting.

Bonus: I don't have any intention of returning to this one, but here are the last few paragraphs before the Muse gave up in despair.

Don't just stand there, Silver said, his hands moving ceaselessly over the brooch he was working on. She needs something to distract her.

Steel grimaced. What, and let her melt everything in this shop?

Sapphire can take it back after I've finished, can't she?

It's bad enough when you're on your own and you act like an irresponsible child. Now we've got to cope with two of you.

Maybe he's brought a toddler so he looks mature in comparison? Sapphire suggested. She unplugged the cash register and set it on the floor close to Acanthite. "Here you are, princess."