Finally had the time to sit down and do one of these, and I really had fun getting a feel for two of my new characters with this.
I might've done a few of these replies wrong though, because not all of them involve both characters together. At least most do!
Writing Challenge #1 - Josh Travis/Cana
Papermoon - Tommy heavenly6
The balled fist connected with the intruder’s jaw, a distinct crack following in response. Josh’s face was expressionless, but his eyes burned with anger.
“What are you doing here? You’re trespassing on private property, and I don’t take kindly to strangers setting foot on my property. “
“Heh,” the rather large man chuckled and massaged his injured cheek. He proceeded to adjust his bowler hat and say, “You know exactly what I’m doing. Move aside.”
Josh eyed the door behind him. It was Cana’s room. “Yeah, I’ve got a good idea…” He turned back to face the man with unwavering resolve. “I’d die before letting you touch her.”
With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Anderson, Jim Sturgess & Dorm Buddies
Josh strummed away on his guitar and began to sing quite noisily. He closed his eyes and swayed. “What would you think if I sang out of tune; would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song, and I'll try not to sing out of key.” The man cracked an eyelid and winked.
Cana rolled her eyes. “I’m your employee, not your lover, old man.”
The guitar strumming ceased.
“You wound me, Cana.”
Overture/Going Through the Motions - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More With Feeling Soundtrack
The young business man spun in his swivel chair several times. The amusement didn’t last long, and he found himself sighing of boredom as the chair creaked to a halt. Josh lay his chin against the palm of his hand, his elbow bent to rest on the desk. “What a boring day. So boring. Isn’t anything exciting going to happen?”
Like an answer to his prayers, a blaring security alarm suddenly broke the silence. Josh immediately perked up, a twisted smile stretching across his face. It was music to his ears.
Stand My Ground - Within Temptation
Cana hid her eyes from the man. She couldn’t bear to see the concern on his face. “I’d rather not talk about it…”
Josh frowned. “Cana, what am I thinking right now?”
Cana still refused to look at him but replied, “That I’ll never defeat these nightmares if I don’t face them.” She sighed. “Can’t I just have a bit more time? I’ll face them tomorrow.”
“Uh uh. None of that. I don’t employ cowards.” Josh rose from his chair and walked across the room to stand beside the bed. He crossed his arms and stood tall, staring straight down at the girl.
“Please move,” she asked quietly.
“Nope.”
“I’ll make you move.”
“Then I’ll just walk back over. Seriously, Cana, give it up already. I don’t have all day.”
Cana grumbled, finally turning around to stare up at Josh. “You‘re very persuasive when you want to be.”
He smiled smugly. “It‘s a gift.”
Haunted - Evanescence
The 8 year old boy looked away from the TV and listened intently to the distant voices. The show he’d been completely enthralled in moments before had become nothing more than white noise in the background.
“If only you hadn’t bought that blasted minerals faculty, we still would’ve had the funds to afford the operation!” The shouts of Josh’s mother echoed through the hallway.
“Just what the hell are you implying? I chose work over the life of my own child?” his father’s voice retorted. The boy had never before heard him sound this furious.
“That’s exactly what you did! You always put your job first!”
“Hah! You’re one to talk. Who took 10 extra hours a week just to bank a sliver more cash? You’re a fine piece of work. Some mother you are!”
“How dare you…” the woman’s voice trembled. “My son is dead!”
“So is mine!”
Josh heard a door slam, followed by the coarse sobs of his mother. He brought his knees up against his body and hugged them tightly, turning his eyes back to the TV screen. Even though he desperately wanted to watch the show, anything to steal his mind away, all he could do was stare through it.
Missing You - Yoko Shimomura (Composer)
Josh stared at the picture frame sitting upon his desk. He didn’t usually let his mind wonder to days gone by, but today for some odd reason he found himself reflecting.
How long had it been now? 20 years? He couldn’t believe Justin had been dead for that long. Sometimes it all came rushing back to him, like it’d only happened yesterday.
Never Too Far From Home - Totally Pokemon Soundtrack
Josh awoke that morning feeling a bit off. It felt like something was missing, but he couldn’t put his finger on what.
As he went through the motions of getting dressed, brushing his teeth, and all of those other essentials, he pondered this feeling but still couldn’t figure it out. Soon after he left his house and headed for the office, but the thoughts still lingered in the back of his mind.
Upon entering the building, he headed into the cafeteria for a coffee and noticed Cana sitting alone at one of the long tables. She looked up at him with a smile and called, “Good morning, boss!”
Josh chuckled. So that had been it all along. Whoever would’ve thought this kid would’ve grown on him so quickly?
With a wave, he yelled back at Cana, “I’m home!”
Murder - Within Temptation
Cana struggled to get out of the chair, but it was futile. They’d strapped her in too tightly, and whatever they’d injected her with had completely blocked her telekinesis.
“Stop struggling, Cana. It’s just like old times,” one of the scientists scolded the teenager. “Now, let us see just how far your abilities have progressed.”
“Stop it! I’m not your toy anymore. I have a life of my own now!” Cana cried.
“Shut up!” the other man struck the girl across the face. “You’re our property. No one gave you the right to have a life!”
His companion choked. “Bobby, you idiot! She was already injured. You just knocked her unconscious! I can’t do the test without her awake.”
Bobby scoffed. “Not my fault she can’t take a hit. Her voice was irritating me.”
Suddenly an insanely powerful force erupted in the center of the room, viciously rocketing the two men and their equipment against the far walls. It felt like a bombed had gone off, but it’d been nothing of the sort. A violent energy had completely enveloped Cana’s body. It ripped the thick leather straps of her chair to shreds as if they'd been made of paper. Her body rose out of the seat in an unnatural way and hung in the air.
Bobby groaned in pain, but he managed to open his eyes and focus on the scene unfolding. Cana’s eyes were completely lifeless. Just what in God’s name had they awakened?
A sinking dread dawned upon him then, and he knew. She was going to kill them all.
Photograph - Nickelback
“Do you remember the day we met?” Cana asked Josh. Beyond his head the city skyline was painted with gorgeous shades of red and orange.
“Where did that come from?” Josh chuckled, gazing down at the city streets far below. “Of course I remember. You walked in on a business meeting out of nowhere. Can’t say that happens too often.”
Cana mused at the memory. “I had nowhere to go back then, and your offer sounded too good to pass up.”
“The offer you weren’t even privy to?”
“Nothing in this city is secret when I‘m sleeping,” Cana replied.
Josh cracked a grin. “Yeah, and I‘m glad for it. Mostly.”
Ring a Bell - Bonnie Pink
As the duo walked through the endless field of sand, Josh adjusted his goggles and eyed his companion. She seemed to be holding up alright. Hey, wait a second, he frowned. It didn’t look like the blowing sands were touching her at all.
“Wait. You’re using your telekinesis to block the sand, and you didn’t even offer me the same treatment?” Josh asked. “I’m getting sand in my mouth here!”
“Well, sorree! You know my powers are limited when I’m awake. This is the best I can do just for myself!”
“Buh. What good is a psychic who can’t even help out her boss in times of need? My poor hair.”
“Shush. Your hair is just as pretty as usual.”
“You’re just saying that ’cause I pay you.”
“Quite possibly. Only a psychic or God himself could know.”
Josh threw a light punch at the girl’s arm but was immediately repelled by the energy wall. He laughed. Joking aside, he didn’t need to verbalize how much he appreciated her company. There was no better body guard, or friend, he could’ve asked for.
