Out of Bounds (Unplugged)
by Mark Philip Alger
This, the eighth story of the Apocrypha, was inspired by two influences.
First was a "skit" incitement by one of the list members at CFXS in the summer of '99 (the armature for the character Serafin, Dean of Students of East College). She suggested that all the bards on the list contribute a story surrounding a Solstice in July celebration on the Center campus, and that the stories had to bear certain earmarks. I don't remember them all, but they included such things as a snowstorm, a singing of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Tim-Tams (an Australian snack), a stone frog, lampshades as hats... and I'm not sure of the rest. The characters had to come in costume as characters in a Xena: Warrior Princess episode. (At least, I think that was the stipulation; since I broke that rule, I could be remembering it wrong, now six years later.)
Second was the emotional freight in the Amanda Marshall song "Out of Bounds," which -- for some odd reason -- I found and find mightily affecting. I can't listen to it even now without its bringing tears to my eyes. Back then, it seemed almost as though it were written about our mutual favorite classical heroines -- Xena and Gabrielle -- lost in a dream that's out of bounds.
Given the story of Xe Doll and Sappho, it seemed a natural.
And, of course, Dolly couldn't resist the chance to get naked.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The characters Gepetto, Pinocchio, and the Blue Fairy, together with their... wait. The characters of Pygmalion and Galatea... Uh, the golem... Well, there's the viewpoint character who's not really me. And then there's this girl who used to be a Gabrielle action figure, but she's not any more, and then there's the Center for X Studies, a fictional university with a campus in Ohio and satellite campi around the world. But that doesn't count. Rennie MacDougal, the mad Scottish instructor in Thaumaturgy is, well... derivative, but of what? The katana is a nice touch, though. Callisto Dolly--in fact, all of the Dollies were manufactured by Toy Biz, but none of the three who are in this story are dollies any more...
Content: Being as this is created by and for fans of a violent television show that had a notorious following of people who are interested in sex, (as if there is anybody who is not interested in sex), it's a pretty safe bet that, even though this story is not about the characters in the show, there's plenty of both. There is also some language that some may find offensive and will tut-tut about. Too bad. That's what the off-button is for. Nobody is forcing you to read this. Exercise your freedom of choice. Everybody else: enjoy!
This story, both in its present form, and as it originally appeared on the Center for Xena Studies mailing list, is © 1999-2004 Mark Philip Alger. All rights reserved.
All works copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Philip Alger. All rights reserved.
by Mark Philip Alger