Dollhouse, "Veneer" Echo

[quirkysmuse]

Fandom: Dollhouse
Title: Veneer
Author: Paynesgrey
Character: Echo
Rating: PG
Word Count: 260
Prompt: "Control" at dollhouseflash
Genre: Introspection
Summary: Echo does not see the invisible tether that keeps her from being free.



Veneer

What she has felt for the past three days lingers on her skin and see-saws over her brain. The emotions amass together, and she smiles from the onslaught of euphoria. She’s really happy. She thinks that maybe it’s the highest point of her life. There’s so much to do – so much to hope for.

The Treatment will only make things better. She looks expectantly to her right, and the man assures her that the treatment will be quick, painless, and then she can go on her way. She settles on the reclining chair with hopeful elation. She closes her eyes, and in a blanketing brilliance the pendulum swings.

She relaxes and then lulls. An elusive rope drags out the colorful images. Her recent happiness becomes null. Experiences become moot. Her future desires turn obsolete.

Yet she still wakes with a smile. An immediate wash of balance flows over her, and her mind feels so new and empty; there’s nothing in the outside world she could possibly love or fear.

She rises from the bed and shallow memories linger; she knows her name, where she sleeps, what color her hair is, and what time fitness classes start. But there’s nothing else, and Echo seems content with it. She doesn’t know any other way to feel. She’s tethered here, and the veneer of absent memories is proof of a tourniquet she cannot see.

And if they have their way, she will never realize it. They will not allow her to feel human enough for her own desires to spring her free.

Comments

[juliet316]

I think that sums up the show so far to a T. Very nice fic.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[yetanothermask.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is really quite lovely... with just the right amount of creepiness to capture the show's mood. :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I love how creepy the show essentially is. There's so much emotion you can tap into.

[mamaboolj.livejournal.com]

The whole "treatment" concept really fascinated me, how they program that into the personalities. I'm glad you touched on it.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I find it interesting too, like the Actives are programmed to know it's necessary and nothing bad comes from it. I can't wait to see them delve more into the concept.

Thanks again for reading!

[emmademarais.livejournal.com]

Rather chilling, isn't it, this way they have of taking so much hope and joy and making it not just moot, but never mourned?

You've captured the tone of the show quite well. It's creepy and dysfunctionally wistful in a way and you've crawled inside that world to shed some insight on the inner workings that make it so.

Nice job!

Thanks for writing for the challenge!

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you think so. The creepiness is something I really like about the show.

[obiwahn.livejournal.com]

Very haunting, and heartbreaking.

there’s nothing in the outside world she could possibly love or fear.

Such a reminder that true joy only exists in a world with pain, and vice-versa.

Great work!

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[idjunkie.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I quite liked your imagery on the memories being swept from her. This was a very well written take on Echo's eternal thoughts before, during and after Treatments.

I do hope you write more Dollhouse fics. I love your stuff! :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you're following this fandom too. And yeah, I do intend to write more. :D

[force-oblique.livejournal.com]

This was so huantingly beautiful!

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[akameji.livejournal.com]

Way late on the comment, but this is an excellent way of phrasing what they're trying to do.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks!