Become the Beast

[tiggymalvern]

A super-short ficlet I wrote for the insanely beautiful Richard Armitage fan collection he was presented with at RDC5.



Everything burns.

Fire aches and strains through the muscle of his thigh, searing his body and flaring into his brain as he holds himself, an unspeakable heat begging him for release, and he holds and holds, pushing deeper into the flame. It liquidates his flesh, forces fluid through the stretched layers of his skin, his inner self squeezed out to trickle over him when he lifts his heels, weakness compressed into sweat that flees beyond his body and drips impurity to the floor.

Embers seethe along his spine, scratch arcs and curves within his shoulders, his back, his glutes, the incessant itch from the image blooming over him. Scabs crack and peel away, the layers of his own skin shed, reptilian, as he grows further into the glory of the dragon.

The dragon’s vastness cannot be limited by human frailty, by fatigued muscles and the flaws of trapped, swollen tendons. To become the dragon, he must become worthy of his power.

His hands clench, the ache cresting into scorching heat as he grips and lifts, the vessel elevated by his own strength, fingers compelled into the power of crushing claws by the force of his will.

Everything burns. His body, his mind, and soon, the dragon’s fire will engulf the world.

Comments

[calise]

This is so evocative. It takes me right into the very heart of the character. Beautifully done!

[tiggymalvern]

Thank you! There were so many people contributing to these fanzines that I had to keep it short, while still trying to give it an impact, and also make it about Richard's skill and physicality as an actor, not just about the character. Short challenges can be fun!

[calise]

I really like the way Richard played him.

Short challenges can be fun! Er... Any chance you fancy joinng in with a drabble challenge, soon to be revived? I have a community ready and waiting here on DW and I'm going to ask around to see if people are still interested.

[tiggymalvern]

These things always depend on time and inspiration, and I rarely commit to anything in advance, because I'm a coward XD But I would definitely take part in some of them, it's just very unlikely to be all of them! (And of the course the last one I screwed up and wrote it way too long, so there's always that XD)

[calise]

I think it's worth giving it another whirl, see how much interest there is. It'll be a very relaxed community. If inspired, join in - if not, no worries. I was very glad you were inspired last time, even if it was a drabble x 8. ;D