War Horse fic: "Fearless Men" for jenthegypsy

[halfdutch]

Title: Fearless Men
Fandom: War Horse
Pairing: Gen. Jamie Stewart/Captain Nicholls (Benedict Cumberbatch & Tom Hiddleston's characters)
Rating: R
Synopsis: Captain Nicholls is nervous the night before the big charge
Word count: About 2500
Note: Happy birthday to jenthegypsy! I know we disagreed about the movie but we can agree on the pretty horses and pretty

Comments

[jenthegypsy]

=O

What? You did what??? OMG, you wrote fic for me? War Horse-Stewart/Nichols fic featuring pretty, moving pictures including those of Joey and Topthorn? Wait...you wrote fic!! OMG - you sly minx you! I haven't read it yet - wanted to gush and bounce all over the totally mind-blowing fact that your muse visited and you wrote for me! Squeeeee!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Back in a few ~~~

[halfdutch]

*bounces*

Yay! Happy it was a nice surprise!! ♥

[jenthegypsy]

Oh. Dear. I am...undone.

You shook the dust off and wrote like you'd never stopped. So patiently crafted, layered with the elements that we knew from the movie, filling in the subtext that flowed between them and leading quietly to that moment which binds them together. Your phrasing is just right, the dialog perfectly understated, in that very British sort of way. There's my good lad. The whole thing is so perfectly crafted that it makes for a natural and effortless read ~ right down to the hearbreaking end. Be brave, for we are fearless men. Yes, damn them. Yes

[halfdutch]

Awww! ♥ So happy you liked it, hon. I wanted to do something special for your birthday! Glad this hit the spot! It might not have been quite right to porn them up but under the circumstances, I thought a little liberty could be taken.

I'd never seen those photos before of Tom with the horse at the premiere but they put a huge smile on my face. Aww, such pretty lads, aren't they? Let's hope they team up again and this time with much more screen time!!

♥

[bachlava]

Oooh, this is brilliant! I love the way you've captured the idealistic and colossally stupid patriotism of 1914, and the way the sheltered life you (and the film) hint at for Nicholls doesn't seem to have corrupted his wonderfully gentle heart.

[halfdutch]

Oh, you're too sweet, thank you! ♥ He really was the most gentle and kind character, wasn't he? I was incredibly sad that he was killed off. He should definitely live on in fic! Thanks for reading and for this lovely comment. ♥

[bachlava]

Very welcome. ;) Nicholls seriously does need to live on in fic. I don't think I could see myself writing this particular pairing - something about the stupid moustache - but maybe he could wind up with the German trench soldier who "speak[s] English well" in Switzerland after the war? Or maybe he could get with Lt. Singh after all? There must be some way to write that pairing that isn't irremediably problematic. There must be.

Erm, anyway, rambling here. The point is: Terrific fic! You are awesome.

[halfdutch]

maybe he could wind up with the German trench soldier who "speak[s] English well" in Switzerland after the war?

Go for it! I'm sure a Lt. Singh fic could work. If English Patient could have a Sikh romance, why not War Horse? (Washing hair scene obligatory!)

Thanks again for the fb! ♥

[philomel]

Oh, this so makes up for all the horrible parts of the movie! Hot and heartbreaking, in just the right way.

Tom and Benedict really need to do more work together. I'd suggest they start with a reenactment of this fic. ;)

[halfdutch]

Aww, thanks for reading, hon. Glad you enjoyed it. How much better would the movie have been if it were just these characters (even without any sexing), and, of course, beautiful green pastures for the horses.

Tom and Benedict really need to do more work together. I'd suggest they start with a reenactment of this fic. ;)

Yes, this! ♥