Unrequited

How could you think you had nothing to offer?
How could you think you meant nothing to me?
You were my friend and my hope and my counsel
You were my savior who helped me be free

Did you know how I yearned for you night after night?
Did you know how I hoped and prayed for your touch?
I thought you'd grow bolder, I thought you would speak
I thought we would have what we wanted so much

Why wouldn't you show me the man 'hind the mage?
Why wouldn't you say what you wanted to say?
I was taught to be courted, not take the first step
I was taught that a princess did not act that way

I turned to another who welcomed my love
I turned to another who gave me his heart
You let me go to him, you said not a word
You let silence and circumstance keep us apart

Now you are lost to me, now you are gone
Now you will rest in your long peaceful sleep
And I must go on with no more than my memories
And I must go on, with a promise to keep
* * *

Forever

Observe that man, that old, old man
Lined and folded, wrinkled skin
Hear the creak of his aged bones
Their strength grown brittle and thin
**
His hair so white its color's gone
His eyes by cataracts blind
His once-fit body now gone weak
Not to mention his once-sharp mind
**
He was a man who had it all
Power and money and fame
A lovely wife, a clever son
All the world to serve as his game
**
But confidence turned cockiness
A choice dictated by greed
Trying to outsmart a trickster
Was a risky thing indeed
**
Alas for David Xanatos
His mistake this simple truth:
He asked for immortality
But forgot eternal youth
**

Holiday

A stretch, a roar, he awakens
Shards of stone explode
Dust flies from his sable mane
As he rakes it with his talons
And flexes out his wide wings
As Goliath greets the night
**
All around him the others
Perform their evening ablutions
Broadway, lacking hair to comb
Rubs his stomach and sniffs the air
And wonders aloud at the scent
Spices, meat, and chocolate
**
Brooklyn and Lexington
Young, spry, and eager
Spring down from their perches
Hudson moves more gingerly
Uncomplaining but feeling
Centuries weighing on old bones
**
Bronx snarls and snaps his jaws
A pigeon, slow-witted or arrogant
Flees the clocktower in a storm
Of shed feathers and droppings
A close call, it escapes
The blue beast howls a challenge
**
Less concerned with pigeons
With his mentor’s age and aches
With his clan’s exuberance
Or aromas, wonderful though they be
Goliath looks down from on high
At the light-spangled street below
**
Old-fashioned shape and white-over-red
Her car stands out from the standard
Dark and silent, empty
Where is the woman, she of the dark eyes
That haunt his daytime dreams
And stir his waking heart
**

She is not here to meet him
To welcome him with her smile
Outshining the sun he’s never seen
Her light and casual touch
Burning him like a brand
Potent as a mate’s caress
**
Against his will, against his wish
His gaze is drawn skyward
To fix on the high towers
So dark against the emerging stars
Once home, now denied him
An enemy’s stronghold
**
The author of all his misfortune
Xanatos may be looking down
A chill brushes him and he imagines
That their eyes meet across the distance
That their minds share the same thought
Of a return, a rematch, a revenge
**
His fists clench in promise of victory
And he turns from the castle view
The clan has gone below and he hears
Their voices raised in surprise and pleasure
He bends his head through the door and stops
At the sight that meets him
**
Here she is, the secret love of his soul
Amid balloons, amid streamers
Beside a table heaped with gifts
And another spread with food
He descends to her and she comes to him
Her small strong hands clasp his
**
He loses himself in her beauty
“What is this?” he asks, and gestures
“Don’t you remember?” she replies
Goliath ponders, and Elisa laughs
“It was one year ago tonight,” she says
“Happy Awakening to you all.”
**

Gargoyles Haikus:

Desolate in stone Brave leader and warrior Friendship gives him hope
	Red leather jacket Good detective trusts no one At least, until now
Falling to the street A monster gliding after Safety in his arms
	Angel of the night Hatred and vengeance made flesh Forever alone
Mentor, old soldier Does the river need a name? Years of fighting left
	Though gourmand, he thinks Not with stomach but with heart Gentle, sweet, and kind
Rebel with a cause Wears his sunglasses at night Looking for romance
	Curious-minded Clever with technology Tinkerer-gremlin
Caught scent of danger Scratching at the tapestry His nose never lies
	Favorite hatchling Insists on strong family ties Over objections
All things to one goal What use is the wealth without Immortality?
	Loyal to a fault Right hand man with left hand stone Lifetime of service
Through the looking glass Chance to have a little fun Come on, let’s party!
	Moon-child trinity Guard the gate of Avalon Know them by their hair
Ill met by moonlight Sneaky manipulator Always gets her way
	Unstoppable force Brought down by a ringing bell It tolls his defeat
Grimorum deprived Delusions of worthlessness Lost his chance at love
	Proud Scottish princess Turned the beasts out of her hall That was her mistake
The boy’s solemn vow The man’s life spent keeping it Defending the Eggs
	Slashed across the face A life turned to bitterness Hired assassin
A quest handed down Generations unbroken Black masks and fury
	At the microscope Making doomsday viruses Amoral doctor
Think they can stop me? Their secret society I’ll find out the truth
	Science and magic Reawakened as cyborg With souls of three trapped
Eternally bound Wants it over between them Death’s not the answer
	Maniacal laugh Darkness both inside and out Abomination
Once and future king Arisen before his time Recruiting new knights
	Beautiful vixen Fire and gold in her hair Wins early parole
Hots for C.O.Y.O.T.I. That’s sicker than usual Could he be jealous?
	Viking descendant Genetic engineering Hungry for action
Surrounded by freaks Hangs onto humanity Armor is enough
	Deceitful daughter Despises his son-in-law Ex-wife remarried
Armed with Mr. C. Payback time for the big one There, now we’re even
	Eye in pyramid Seeking ultimate control World domination
Warriors like us Arrange a secret meeting Oh, no, it’s a trap!
	Engagement present Beauty and the beast in one Love is his weakness
Sorcery abounds Human into gargoyle Kinda fun, but weird
	Nightmare Manhattan A dream or a prophecy Can’t let it come true
Spider-god trickster Spinning promises and lies Undone by his girth
	Enter this vessel Avatar of Anubis Power over death
Dancing through decades Happiness and homesickness Here we go again

Gargoyles Filks:

Iron Bells To the tune of "Silver Bells" * Pretty island, mystic island Dressed in fairytale style In the air there's a feeling of magic Sisters blaming, Gargoyles claiming That they've been here a while And across all the island you hear ... * * * Iron bells, (iron bells) Iron bells, (iron bells) Oberon's lost, what a pity Hear them knell, broke his spell Soon they will drive him away * * * Trees and lava, earth and crystal Do what Oberon wills Though the Fay Lord gave up half his powers See the forge glow, does the clan know It's Titania's big scheme And across all the island you hear ... * * * Iron bells, (iron bells) Iron bells, (iron bells) Oberon's lost, what a pity Hear them knell, broke his spell Soon they will drive him away *	Quarrymen To the tune of "Jingle Bells" * Bashing through the stone Of gargoyles is okay Not good as flesh and bone But safer far by day * Hoods and hammers hide Our true identity What joy it is to feel inside The hate and bigotry * Oh! Quar-ry-men, Quar-ry-men Gargoyles are our prey No, these monsters cannot hide From our leader Castaway-hey! * A week or two ago We had a real big fight Oh how our hammers bright Were lighting up the night! * What a dirty shame We should never fail But then that Maza woman came And took us all to jail * Oh! Quar-ry-men, Quar-ry-men Gargoyles are our prey No, these monsters cannot hide From our leader Castaway-hey! *

Livin' La Vie Demona To the tune of "Livin’ La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin She came from Castle Wyvern Blue skin and dactyl wings Her screech will make you shiver That garg's done some crazy things She's into learning magic Archmage taught her all the tricks She's got a life so tragic But still she gets her kicks She'll make you beg for Mercy as she's laughing in your face She'll do just about anything To destroy the human race With a laser or a mace Updraft Full Moon Glide She's livin' la vie Demona No place left to hide Livin' la vie Demona Her eyes glow devil-red A thousand years alone-a She is full of pride Livin' la vie Demona She's livin' la vie Demona Woke up in New York City Her clan she knew so well They broke her heart And they turned against her So she cast a mind-controllin' spell She fooled and married Macbeth And flew Thailog at Notre Dame Once she met her daughter there She'd never be the same Though she still would be insane Updraft Full Moon Glide She's livin' la vie Demona No place left to hide Livin' la vie Demona Her eyes glow devil-red A thousand years alone-a She is full of pride Livin' la vie Demona She's livin' la vie Demona She'll make you beg for Mercy as she's laughing in your face She'll scourge the world of human life And maybe the Third Race Or just put them in their place Updraft Full Moon Glide She's livin' la vie Demona No place left to hide Livin' la vie Demona Her eyes glow devil-red A thousand years alone-a She is full of pride Livin' la vie Demona She's livin' la vie Demona Updraft Full Moon Glide She's livin' la vie Demona No place left to hide Livin' la vie Demona Her eyes glow devil-red A thousand years alone-a She is full of pride Livin’ la vie Demona Livin’ la vie Demona Livin’ la vie Demona Livin’ la vie Demona	Just the Way I Want to the tune of “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel As sung by Dr. Servarius * You’ll be changing, before you know it DNA splicing is my game I can imagine, your new appearance And you won’t ever be the same * I only do this, to help improve you Your chromosomes will bear the brunt I took some samples, I’ll make some changes I’ll make you just the way I want * Don’t go crying from reaction Don’t hate what happened to your hair You’ll always be my favorite creation At least until I grow a spare * I don’t want simple manipulation I never fail to be up-front I just want someone that I can mutate I’ll make you just the way I want * I need to know your family history Genetic flaws and blood type too What will it take ‘til you change freakishly The way that all my subjects do * I said there’s no cure, it lasts forever No matter how you roar and grunt I have remade you so much better I’ve made you just the way I want *** Only on Avalon to the tune of “Only the Good Die Young,” by Billy Joel as sung by Oberon * Come on, Titania, don’t say me nay You Avalon girls have games to play But sooner or later I will get my way It might as well be Oberon I gave you an island with magic’s bright sheen I built you a castle and made you my queen And we’ll never forget that Midsummer’s Dream But this is where we belong Only on Avalon * You might have heard I rule with a dangerous hand I may be petty, I may demand It may be mortals can’t understand But that makes me Oberon Come on, Titania, sound me a knell Melt down the iron, I’ll ring you a bell In ill-met moonlight I know you so well Our love is still so strong Only on Avalon * You got a new grandson and a daughter from your human dalliance You got a son-in-law And a name -- Renard But Titania they didn’t give you quite enough true alliance They can’t compare to me Though you were calling them your family * Puck says Earth’s a heaven for those who will stay He says it’s better but I say no way He’d rather laugh at the mortals than dine with the fay The Children are much more fun Only on Avalon * You say the Princess told you th’only thing they wanted was a sanctuary I disallowed their plea But then they finally made a bow to me * So come on, Titania, don’t say me nay You Avalon girls have games to play Sooner or later I will get my way It might as well be Oberon Only on Avalon ***

Cauldron of Life to the tune of “Circle of Life,” by Elton John as sung by David Xanatos * From the night I completed this castle And grinning, saw gargoyles unspelled There was more to gain than can ever be gained More to have than can ever be held * They say you can’t take it with you Who are they that are thinking so small? For I have found the key To immortality -- ... thank you, Owen ... that’ll be all ... * It’s the Cauldron of Life And it makes you live As the mountain stones As solid rock Now we know the price To become undying Of the Cauldron The Cauldron of Life * (chorus repeats)