New TS fic. Night 'verse

[castalie]

Title: Two Hundred Dollar Worth
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 200
Story Notes: Set in my AU Night 'verse. The Cliff's Notes would be: Blair is a prostitute and Jim isn't a cop. They are together, though. Then again, what universe would that be if they weren't, right?
Story Notes 2: Written for sentinel_thurs's 200th challenge, the prompt being '200 + 200 words'

Thank you to both turps33 and starwatcher307 for the encouragements and help :-)

---

Before Jim, Blair's secret to continuing the routine of getting up in the morning and going outside at night and making himself available - making himself a commodity - was to hide behind the walls he had erected from an early age.

Kids build Lego forts in their rooms to have fun. Blair had built solid walls around him to stay sane.

It’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? It’s the same principle; what doesn’t touch you can’t hurt you.

It was a pretty easy lesson to learn, really. Or so Blair has convinced himself. He learned it fairly young, and he’s damned proud of it.

So that’s the secret that helped him keep going before Jim. It wasn't so bad. Because, hey, at least he still kept going, right?

But after Jim, things aren’t the same.

Now, the secret to continue getting up in the morning and going outside at night and making himself available - a commodity - is to believe.

Believe that he’s worth something. That he’s worth much more than the two hundred dollars crumpled in his fist tonight.

And if that's too difficult? Then the secret is to believe that Jim, at least, believes it.

Comments

[sid]

Oh, I like this. I'm bookmarking the Night 'verse link. :-)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! For reading, taking the time to comment, and also for the interest *g*

[dreaming-k.livejournal.com]

I haven't read your Night 'verse and am thinking that I should, to understand better.
Why does he still have to 'make himself available', even after meeting Jim? Poor Blair. *pets*
At least Jim does help, in a way, by believing in Blair.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I does help to know the rest of the series, admittedly, because you'd know the bigger picture :-)

Why does he still have to 'make himself available', even after meeting Jim?

You know about those hooker!fics where one of the boys is a hooker and is rescued by the other after they meet and fall in love? I have a huge hooker!fic kink and I've always wanted to write my own; except I wanted to do it a bit differently.

So in my version, there's no rescue. Well, no obvious rescue; ie Blair is still a prostitute even after he's gotten together with Jim. But Jim and Blair do help each other with their issues and difficult pasts, so in my eyes, there is a rescue, only not the kind we usually see.

I know it might sound weird, but hopefully it does work in the series *g* Not to say it'd be to everyone's liking, of course *nods*

Anyway, enough rambling. Thank you for the comment; I'm delighted you enjoyed it; especially as you didn't even know what came before :-)

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

I love this 'verse and it made me very happy to see this double drabble set in it.

And you're worth so much more, Blair. You hang onto that, because it's true :;nods::

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the lovely feedback! I keep saying the same thing each time someone comments on that series and tells me they enjoyed it, but I have so much love for it myself that it really thrills me to no end when I see I'm not the only one :-)

[maaaaa.livejournal.com]

::twirls::

ohmygodohmygodohmygod!!!

::hyperventilates::

You wrote in the Night verse!!

::sucks air::

I luvs it I do...it that heart-achey way I luv the guys in this verse.

::hugs the stuffing outta Mouse::

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Lol Hee omg I WROTE A NEW NIGHT STORY, MAAAAA! *twirls*

And thank you so the ever so lovely feedback, 'heart-achey' is a beautiful description of that series, I think *g*

[starwatcher]

.
Great story; such a punch in so few words. As you so often do in this series, it's bittersweet, yet still hopeful. That last line just makes my throat go all tight. Well done!
.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the kind words: I'm overjoyed each time someones described the series using words like 'bittersweet yet still hopeful' because that's exactly how I see it myself so I'm always thrilled to see that I succeeded in showing just that :-)

[buddhachic.livejournal.com]

Love 'Night Verse' and love this. So much strength.
Thanks!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the feedback! I'm delighted you enjoyed that drabble, and even more delighted that you like the whole series :-)

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

Blair is reframing like crazy, finding something positive out of a bad situation. I love this series, it's sad and sweet at the same time. It reminds me of finding a beautiful flower growing in between the cracks of a broken down sidewalk in a slum area.
The social worker in me wants to sign up Blair for a GED class and get him tested, then into school.
Laurie

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, what a beautiful way to describe my series, wow! Thank you so much ♥ ♥

The social worker in me wants to sign up Blair for a GED class and get him tested, then into school.

Hee should I want to write an ending of sorts for that series, or an AU to the AU, I might just come to see you :-)

[t-verano.livejournal.com]

Your Night 'verse is *so* good, so wrenching. I love the dynamics between the guys, and the emotions. And this is so moving. "It wasn't so bad. Because, hey, at least he still kept going, right?" ::heartclench:: That last line is just a killer...

Beautiful.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I'm always so happy when I see that other people got into that verse and enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the - nicely detailed - feedback :-)

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

Wow. Great little piece. Thanks for sharing this. :)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I'm delighted you enjoyed that little piece :-)

[sockich.livejournal.com]

If I think about it really, really hard, would writing bugs bite you more often, d'you think? It's worth a try, anyway. *thinks really, really hard*

This is fantastic, woman. You say so much in so little words and it's such a perfect little look into this universe and...yeah. Much, much love. ♥

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Lol If you could think really, really hard with some plot bunnies included in the really, really hard thoughts, it would be awesome :-)

Thank you for tbeing always so enthusiastic in your feedbacks, mate *kisses* It always makes me happy to see that you're still enjoying the series *g*

[sockich.livejournal.com]

*wishes really, really hard, with plot bunnies included*

And you know, with writing like this, I find it extremely easy to be enthusiastic. ;)

Also, YOU ICON! I was just thinking a couple of days back about how much I missed TBD (and then I re-watched all the eps I have). I went looking and saw the entire season is up for download in torrent form, but I can't make myself dl it. This way, I can just pretend they're on an extended break, or something. *dork*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I can't wait for the DVDs to come out; I'll finally be able to watch the episodes properly. I just didn't like the quality of those webepisodes *makes face*

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

Yay! More Night 'verse. ::happy smile::

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I was kinda bouncing when writing it, I have to say lol Thanks for reading and commenting :-)

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Oh, the Night 'Verse! Your series is one of my absolute favorites. Sweet and tender, but sad and gritty -- perfect in all ways. This is such a nice little addition to it. Blair's trying so hard, but at least he's learned that if he can't keep the good thoughts going, he can count on Jim.

*Hearts* you and your story!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Ohhh wow your comment is pure music to my ears! I'm so delighted you liked it!

The Night series is really dear to my heart so it makes very happy to hear you've enjoying that 'verse :-)

Thank you!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It's still just as good now.

You really have them down in this verse, the love they have despite the situation they're in. It's a special thing indeed to know someone is there for you when all around things are going to hell.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sis :-)

The relationship the guys have in TS is a joy to write on a good day but, in that verse, it's even more fascinating and a bigger challenge too.

It makes for an intense writing, but I have so much fun each time! Which is why I'm always so happy when other enjoy that version of Jim and Blair *g*