Dollhouse fic: It Is Well with My Soul

[seriousfic]

Title: It Is Well with My Soul
Fandom: Dollhouse
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 252
Author’s notes: Spoilers for episode 1x01 Ghost
Characters/Pairings: Topher, Eleanor Penn
Summary: Topher knows no one appreciates his art.



There was a subtle artistry to mixing memories that Topher knew people didn’t appreciate. The perfect girlfriend, for instance, was a really hard blend of Madonna and whore. Virgin enough for that first love sweet without the cynicism of bad break-ups, but slut enough to know what she was doing. And boyfriends? Forget it. Alpha wolves with sensitivity and a certain paternal charm. It was exhausting, but with no real artistry. Women were the masterpieces.

His latest artwork was Eleanor Penn—the slightly masculine name was his idea. Standard ball-busting negotiator, but this blend of book-smart and boobs wasn’t for the boardroom (Topher changed her middle name to B, for obvious reasons). Hostage negotiation was a little used skill set, but he measured it out and mixed it in. Now all she needed was motivation. Perhaps some good old-fashioned heroic tragedy. He looked under the victimization subgroup. He was an old hand at those. Lotta people willing to pay for fear that wasn’t faked. He thumbed through the well-worn catalog of human misery redeemed by art, like Horatio Spafford turning the death of his four daughters into a beautiful hymn. He had to tone down on the drunken, abusive fathers for male engagements. It was getting to be a motif. Maybe a pinch of lost love instead. The ladies responded well to brooding.

And there she was, Eleanor Penn, picture of womanhood in all its strength. More perfect than life could ever do. Heroines really weren’t born. They were made, by him.

Comments

[dana-serenity.livejournal.com]

Oooh I really like this, I think you captured his character perfectly ;)

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

So far, I'm finding Topher to be just about the creepiest thing ever and you've really captured that here. *shudder*

Thanks for sharing!

[potatoko.livejournal.com]

Erch. This makes me feel queasy, as does Topher himself; so you've perfectly captured his horrifying detachment from the people he's messing with. Nicely done!

[prozacpark.livejournal.com]

Oh, creepy! I really liked this and you captured him nicely.

Is it wrong that in my head Topher secretly equals Joss? This fic probably didn't help.

[emmademarais.livejournal.com]

Wow, creepy but good!

Topher would have this sort of detachment about his 'creations', conveniently ignoring he's playing with human lives and people's (formerly) private memories.

Like a geek who is proud of their computer system, he views Eleanor as just another system he designed to do a job. That she is breathing flesh and blood means nothing to him.

/shudder/

Nicely done.

Would you consider crossposting this to dollhouseflash? We're trying to be the go to comm for short DH fic and this would fit in perfectly.

Thanks!

[catko]

Wow. I never thought of it this way. After the first ep, this character was such a puzzle; it seemed ambiguous whether we're supposed to relate to him or not? (The comments and spec about him being another Joss-alter ego only serves to confuse matters!) But here, you've really captured the mix of scientist, artist, and power mad chauvinist, that I think is probably how he's going to shape up to be. Really great.