Probationary Writing Sample

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

Okay, trying the difficult version with the customized text.



He couldn't remember when things had gotten so difficult. Once, if you died, you simply moved on. Went away, to another place, lived another life. Now, a death observed by mortals who knew him well enough to recognize him on sight meant hiding until he had tied up his loose ends and left area, and preferably the country.

Of course it had also been a long time since he had gotten himself killed in front of mortal witnesses twice in a century. With a sigh, he settled back on the sofa and tried to concentrate on the book he had borrowed from Joe's shelves. Another couple of days, and he would be out of here, on his way to England. It was a bit of a risk, moving so close. The responsible thing would have been moving to Africa or Asia. He hadn't died in Asia for a long time. Or maybe Australia, where he'd never even been before. Methos had suggested Kathmandu, but he would of course.

However, he had settled on England without much thought. He needed a break. He wanted to be closer to home for a while. Going home all the way, however, was out of the question. He didn't feel up to dealing with the descendents of his clan again right now.

The book wasn't proving as captivating as it had promised to be when he had taken it. God, but he hated dying. It brought no end of trouble.

Comments

[dannyjohnson67.livejournal.com]

The night had been busy at Le Blues Bar. Joe smiled to himself as he remembered what would be his last night in his non-watcher job in Paris. An emergency had come up. He would have to return home to the states, and quickly. Yes, of course he would try and find someone to take over the bar, but he'd probably have to have an agent do that.

He imagined the watchers would sell the place. It was fine with him. While he truly enjoyed his 'civilian' job, his vocation was that of a watcher, and as a watcher he travelled with the immortal he watched. You didn't get attached to places in that job.

He unlocked his door and stepped into his apartment. Amazing how much things could change, given the right incentive. A couple of years ago, he had been nearly executed for befriending the immortal. Now that the watchers knew of their friendship, he could even offer him a safe place to hide in until they left for their new lives.

McLeod was sitting on the sofa, reading, but he had glanced his way as he'd heard the door open. With a skewed smile, Joe tossed a bag of crisps he had brought with him at his charge.

"Couldn't get any grapes," he said.

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

Taken by surprise, Duncan grabbed at the bag, frowning.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he accused.

He put aside the book, not bothering to mark the page where he had been. It wasn't like he really remembered anything he'd read just now, after all.

[dannyjohnson67.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't you?" Joe shot back.

He sank into a chair across from the immortal and gave him a thoughtful look.

"What's bothering you, McLeod?" he asked. "It can't be just the dying thing. You died before."

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

"Not so often in so short a time," Duncan claimed. "And it's not 'just' the dying thing. It's dragging mortals into the Game and getting them killed. And then there's the whole set of problems dying brings these days. How long until we won't be able to talk our way out of it anymore, Joe? The modern world is making things more and more difficult for us."

He grimaced, remembering the times when modern media had gotten him or one of his friends into trouble.

Needing something to do, he ripped open the bag and shoved a handful of crisps into his mouth.

"I'm tired of the Game, Joe."

[dannyjohnson67.livejournal.com]

"Richie chose to ride motorcycle races, knowing what an accident on screen would mean, McLeod," Joe reasoned.

He knew leaving behind his old life was hard on Duncan. In contrast to himself who, as a watcher, kept apart from people, tried not to get involved, expecting that at any moment his immortal might decide on a fancy to leave the country, and who then had to be able to disappear quickly without too many questions being asked, Duncan had made lives for himself both in Seacouver and Paris. Those lives had included friends from the mortal world, people he had helped and cared for greatly, and, at times, lovers. He had been careful about setting up those lives, and now he had lost first the one and then the other, without enough time in between to establish another secondary life for himself.

"Have you decided where you want to go yet?"

He certainly hope it wouldn't be one of the places Methos kept suggesting. Honestly, if that man hadn't secretly been his own watcher, they probably would have had a hard time finding anyone willing to watch him without being paid extra for the added effort.

While he was reasonably sure that McLeod wouldn't disappear into the wilderness for months on end, he did enjoy the comforts a decent-sized town offered.

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

Duncan tossed the bag of crisps onto the table.

"I know," he spat. "And I know he should've stayed out of the limelight. But that's just it. We're noticed these days, even if we don't do anything special for it."

He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands.

"England. We're going to England. I need a break from the Game."

[dannyjohnson67.livejournal.com]

"Home to the Highlands to visit your family?" Joe asked as he bent forwards to pull the crisps towards him. After the episode in the bookshop's basement he had thought he'd never want to even look at the things again. He'd obviously been mistaken.

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

"I said England, Joe, not Scotland!" Duncan growled. "There's a place called Lower Tadfield. That's where we're going."

[dannyjohnson67.livejournal.com]

At least now he was looking angry instead of just tired and depressed. Joe's eyes sparkled as he hid a grin.

"And what is so special about this place called Lower Tadfield?" he wanted to know.

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

Without looking up, Duncan replied: "They have a hotel there. It used to be a convent, so I'll actually be able to relax a bit for a change. I certainly need it."

[dannyjohnson67.livejournal.com]

"I never would have noticed," Joe commented sarcastically, but he nodded knowingly at the rest.

"Holy Ground. Very well. When are we going?"

[chaoticrobyn.livejournal.com]

"I'm going to leave the day after tomorrow," Duncan announced. "So you better pack your bags."