Fanfiction Sunday: The Value of a Smile

Good morning and Happy Sunday! It's a bright, cold day here in St. Louis. The little snowfall we received is strictly on the ground, the streets are clear. Which is good, as in an hour or so we're going to go see Les Miserables.  If I had the time, I'd watch The Hobbit and Skyfall again too, but alas that isn't the case.

For today's fanfiction, I thought I would go outside of Harry Potter for a change (I do write in other fandoms lol).  Today is from Dexter. I've read all the books, but only seen the first three seasons. I hope to catch up someday. Enjoy!

The Value of a Smile

A smile could mean so very many things, with nuances as varied as the wearer whose face it graced.

Smiles came in all sizes and shapes; they were barometers indicative of the mood of the smiler. Some smiles were good, others less so, depending upon ones perspective.

For example, when Dexter smiled at his sister, or at his co-workers at the Miami Police Department, it was generally from a sense of expedience—of doing what normal people were supposed to do in order that he appear normal to the others. Except that Dexter Morgan wasn’t normal, not in the accepted sense of the word, and he knew it. And somehow Sergeant Doakes knew it too. Therefore Dexter was quite careful to smile at the sergeant on a regular basis, and to be unfailingly polite to him.

Funny how in a building crammed full of police officers, Doakes was the only one that found Dexter to be off.

And he never smiled back.

Of course, come to think of it, Dexter’s sister Deb wasn’t big on smiling either. Mainly because she was usually pissed off about something. In fact, a smile from her was often something to be wary of. It generally meant that she was contemplating some bit of evil.

It was only Dexter that couldn’t get away with being less than believable in his smile, because Dexter was the one that was living the lie, pretending to be what he wasn’t—namely, normal. Some might even say human.

Dexter wasn’t saying one way or the other. He was what he was, and he couldn’t imagine himself being any other way.

“Shit, Dex, you’re in the way. If you’re gonna do something, do it. Fuck!”

There she was now. The queen of foul language herself. He wasn’t offended by her words. Dexter felt nothing. Obligingly, he moved for her, although in all fairness he’d been there first, and he was working a crime scene here. She pushed by him with a grunt.

The corpse was propped up against the wall, still in situ. The blood smears which began a few feet up the wall were a bloody trail against the pallid wallpaper. “Excuse me, bro.” That was Angel No Relation Battista, aiming and clicking from various angles. Last photographs of the deceased, taken for posterity. Personally, Dexter preferred his slides.

“All right now,” Angel encouraged the victim. “Smile for the camera.” A click and another flash.

Dexter half expected the remains to accede to the polite request, but it was and would remain a physical impossibility, for the victim’s lower jaw had been removed by the killer. For what reason, Dexter had not yet begun to speculate. But he would ponder the possibilities. That was just who he was, and what he did. Delving into the mind of the murderer. Wondering what made him or her tick.

Of course it had something to do with the message that had been scrawled across the wall in the victim’s  own blood:  JAWBONE OF AN ASS. But what?

“Jeez, Angel, you’re fucking morbid,” Deb complained. She shook her head and punched Dexter in the arm. He wanted to protest that he’d not been the one to say it, but realized it would do no good.

“You finished here, Dex?” his sister asked.

He rubbed his arm and nodded.  “Yeah, I got what I need.”

“Good, let’s get the fuck outta here so they can take that away.” She waved one hand vaguely at the corpse, before exiting the premises, Dexter trotting obediently behind her.

“Can we stop for lunch?” he asked hopefully, but he got no immediate response. Why was it, he wondered, as he took his spot in the passenger seat of Deb’s official vehicle, that normal people could be mirthless and out of sorts as often as they liked and no one gave it a second thought, but he, Dexter, had to be more human than them and smile when he didn’t even understand why he should other than it was part of the rules as set down by Harry.

That was all he needed, he supposed. To remember the rules and to live by them.

Deb stopped into a small lunch place they both liked, and Dexter ordered the Cuban sandwich he craved. When the waitress brought it, he remembered that gratitude was one reason that people smiled. So he gave her a big one.

“Jesus, Dexter, you trying to fuck her?” Deb asked before she pushed half a sandwich into her face.

Smiles. One of life’s mysteries, Dexter decided, biting into his own food in a more controlled manner. Go figure.

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Family Love in Renaissance Italy - the return of the Borgias, and more

Last night was not only Easter, it saw the start of season 2 of Showtime's series, The Borgias. Season one was so successful that the show was renewed for a second season less than one month in. It has everything one could hope for in a show - a dysfunctional power-hungry family and the panoply of the Renaissance and all its historical glory. Love, hate, murder - the things that keep a family together, right?

I adored this show from the beginning, so eagerly awaited the second season, and am thrilled that it's back. Although I must say I didn't feel quite the same energy in the first episode as I'd hoped for, but hopefully that too shall pass as they gear up once again.

**SPOILERS AHEAD*** There were definitely some interesting developments last night, including the attempt on Della Rovere's life, perpetrated through the use of a willing altar boy. The look on Rovere's face when he looked into Cesare's eyes was priceless. Too bad it failed. There you have the biggest reason that I watch the show (not that I wouldn't anyway, but this is definitely the icing on the cake) - Cesare Borgia (Francois Arnaud). However, he seemed to be missing a little of the fire of the first season, I'm hoping that 's a temporary thing. And that we see more of his "impossible love" - ie, that his feelings for his sister Lucrezia, who now has a fine baby boy, courtesy of the groom Paolo.

As you'll recall from the first season, the Pope (Rodrigo Borgia, played by Jeremy Irons) deflected the intentions of King Charles of France by giving up Naples which, as it turned out, was in the midst of a plague, brought about by an insufferable little twit of a prince. Charles took ill, but he survived, vowing to have his revenge on the prince. When he was caught, Charles introduced him to his father's gruesome torture chamber, his screams an accompaniment to the music enjoyed by the king and his entourage. However, we know it's just a matter of time before he settles the score with Rome, Rodrigo's only bought himself time, not a permanent solution.

As usual, Rodrigo has a mistress, Julia Farnese that we met in the first season. Now he's taken a fancy to an artist's apprentice. But before you go suspecting him of buggery, I'll add that the apprentice is actually a girl, in disguise. Which leads to some interesting scenes between her and the Pope, as well as her and Julia. Rodrigo wishes his people to have some fun, so he decides to throw them a festival, let the cost be damned. This only serves to enhance the rivalry between Cesare and his brother Juan. There's already jealousy there, because Juan was given the military career Cesare would have liked, and he was forced to take the cloth. Juan doesn't fight fair. In a race, he causes Cesare's horse to fall, throwing him and causing him to lose. But Cesare reciprocates at the dance. I suspect at some point these two will come to a head in a life or death struggle. I only hope that Cesare wins.

From what I can see of the previews, there is a great deal to look forward to, including the reappearance of Lucrezia's groom. And don't count out her degraded and humiliated, cruel husband. Under other circumstances, I'd say he's sexy, but his dire cruelty prevents me from thinking so about the character. This is a series definitely worth watching, and I'm glad it's back.

A new season of Chopped All Stars also began last night, and the first episode featured something never seen  before in the Chopped Kitchens - four Iron Chefs competing together. ***SPOILERS AHEAD*** The chefs were Michael Symon, Cat Cora, Marc Forgione, and Jose Garces. Leading up to the main event, they showed last season's episodes. It was fun to revisit them, especially the battle between Aaron Sanchez and Geoffrey Zakarian. In the new season, the caliber of the chefs set the bar high, and this was reflected in the quality of the food which the judges were served. In the end, the unflappable Michael Symon prevailed over Marc Forgione, and will move on to the championship round.

A few of my shows are on temporary hiatus, including Once Upon a Time and The Vampire Diaries. Grimm has only six episodes left in the season. This week, Nick took his girlfriend away for a little R&R - but things never seem to work out well for him. He ended up being next door to a man who was keeping his wife hostage, because of her intrinsic value to him. Nick has to help, of course, it's in his nature. The strain of the secrets he's keeping is taking its toll on his relationship with Juliette, and his marriage proposal isn't exactly met with the enthusiasm he'd hoped for - or the answer. Meanwhile, Hank finds himself drawn more and more to Adelaide, his behavior crossing over the border into stalkerdom, and Monroe is getting closer to the new owner of the apothecary shop, as they have a great deal in common.

I've found that Cooking Channel shows Iron Chef Japan, so I'll be watching some of those, and talking about them, later, as well as other episodes of Chopped and Restaurant Impossible and Jeff Lewis' new show, Interior Therapy.

All for now, need to get busy - yard work and guest blogs to write, books to edit and write!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie