14 - the days I live without you
I'm so very sorry for the lateness of the new post. But this is the first time LJ is working for me again. I wrote a sonnet for you but is now forever lost in the glitches :(
So no funny business here, I know you want to get back to the usual game ASAP.
There is a substitute on dreamwidth in case LJ is having trouble again.
The usual things:
1) All ( Read more... )
So no funny business here, I know you want to get back to the usual game ASAP.
There is a substitute on dreamwidth in case LJ is having trouble again.
The usual things:
1) All ( Read more... )
Pairings include TBGB, implied Blairbell, implied past Clameron (though not of a very nice sort), possibly past Mandelbrown?
He wakes up with a crick in his neck and a woman's shoe on his chest.
"What are you doing here?"
He stares up at her. Her she wears a fine blouse and jacket, and pencil skirt -- smart clothing, but raggard, stained and torn. Her hair seems pinned in place somehow, though he can't see how; perhaps it's as scared of her as he is? Her voice is haughty, cold, posh to the point of parody. His first thought is that she does not sound like she belongs here. He immediately admonishes himself for it. After all -- neither does he.
He tries to hide his fear and his embarrassment. "Sorry, I--" He coughs. "I genuinely thought this place was abandoned. Um, if you take your foot off me I'll g--"
A presence swarms toward them. "Oh Maggie, stop that!" Someone drops beside David's head, making him jump. "Sorry, she's always like that. Just ignore her. We don't have much, but if you need a place to sleep we'll give it to you! Hi, I'm Tony. What's your name?"
"...David." He's perplexed by this sudden stream of information, and hesitantly reaches to shake Tony's outstretched hand when he realises Maggie -- or Margaret, as the glare in her eyes tells him she'd much rather be called -- is still looking at him.
"How did you get in here anyway?"
"The window was open." David finds himself tremendously intimidated by these two people. Margaret looks like she is carved out of steel. Tony's grin is so wide David fears he might be about to be eaten.
"Well the window doesn't actually have any glass in it, but it's an easy mistake to make," Tony says. "Someone had a little accident there, didn't they?"
David is confused, until an a quiet grunt comes from the doorway. There he sees this other man, huge and brooding, looking down. Tony rolls his eyes. "I love you too dear," he says. "Gordon," he tells David. "Words aren't his strong suit."
At some point Margaret has let him go, and he sits up. "Sorry," he says again. "Sorry to be such a bother. I didn't know -- I'll get out of your hair--"
"No, no!" says Tony. "I mean, if you are breaking in to sleep here, it's because you don't have anywhere else, right?"
David hesitates. Ah yes, how to explain. How to explain being the only son of very old money, the heir to estates and millions, privileged beyond all reason. How to explain meeting, being charmed and seduced by a young, beautiful, half-Dutch boy while studying at Oxford, enough to go to his parents shortly after graduating, explaining he had found the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. How to explain being cast aside as a result, being stripped of all inheritance, titles and every single penny. How to explain being willing to make a go of things with this lover nonetheless, thinking nothing of sharing his life, home, and critically bank details with him. How to explain waking up one morning with nothing but a note saying his partner was on a train back to Amsterdam, and checking his account to find he had been robbed. How to explain being unable to reconcile with his parents, no matter how he had begged and pleaded. How to explain three years of being unable to get a job, due to a combination of 'being overqualified' and, he fears, his parents putting in a word to prevent it. How to explain being descended from a king and wasting away on the streets of London. How to explain.
Tony sees the look on his face and thankfully, doesn't ask for said explanation. "Well, you can stay here."
"Are you insane?!" barks Margaret. "We can scarcely afford to feed ourselves, and--"
"As I actually contribute an income to this household, I have some authority to decide on that, no?" Her glower worsens. "Gordon?"
Gordon sighs heavily. "You're just going to fucking to do it anyway," he growls, more to himself than anything. Tony beams like this is a ringing endorsement.
"See, what are you worried about?"
David gapes, gobsmacked. What is happening here? Before he can respond, there is a knock on the doorframe. "Hello?"
Reply
John blinks in confusion. David shares the feeling. "...Oh," is all he says.
David realises he really ought to say something himself. "You know, I haven't actually agreed yet."
"You will," says Tony blithely.
"I don't have any money, I can't pay rent--"
"Oh, neither can we! We're all squatters here."
David sighs and looks around at this strange crowd. Margaret still doesn't look enthused, but seems to have given up on arguing the point. Gordon is skulking in the corner, not looking him in the eye. David could feel more welcomed. Tony is practically glowing with overconfidence.
But John convinces him. John, who looks at him simply and kindly, whose very presence is comforting, and makes David feel staying here is a good idea.
"Alright," he says.
Reply
I love this fic already.
"Well the window doesn't actually have any glass in it, but it's an easy mistake to make"
XD Unlike the others you can easily see how Gordon got in this position.
David's tragic backstory is marvelous and strangely plausible (Nick as a con-man is all too credible, I fear), and then John showing up and reassuring him with his normal, bland presence that it's safe... this whole thing is just perfect.
Never thought I would want to read a homelessness AU but apparently "David Cameron reluctantly shares a squat with Thatcher and NuLab" is a rich vein of comedy and angst just waiting to be mined. I hope there is loads more to come!
Reply
Tony and his big grin are truly wonderful, poor, poor David, young and naive being seduced and robbed by evil!Nick and having a horrible family to top it all. I can't wait to see how he's going to fit with every member of the house.
Reply
Leave a comment