(no subject)
Okay, I actually edited this from the previous post to give the story a proper header. It was also to seperate them. It's been pointed out to me that Balancing and Listen are actual companion pieces in a way (go Monkey-subconcious! 'cause I sure as hell didn't plan it like that *g*). However, there is a very slight mention of bondage in Balancing and I know some are quite sensative to that; therefore, I thought I should seperated the two stories, as well as give them proper headers.
Lin, I will write you another one this weekend using the title you requested. This just popped out of my head and demanded to be written. :-D
Also, a big thank you. I never would have attempted ficcing O'Brian's world without your asking for it.
Title: Listen
Author: Monkeypuzzle
Fandom: Aubrey/Maturin novels
Pairing: Aubrey/Maturin/Surprise
Rating: PG-13
Summery: "There was the strangest sound coming from Jack’s violin..."
A/N: Takes place after Treason's Harbour, though it is really spoiler free. Written for linaelyn for the Drabble Meme. Um, it grew a bit.
There was the strangest sound coming from Jack’s violin; Stephen looked up from his own tuning to attend closer. Jack’s eyes were shut and his brow furrowed, exerting immense concentration on what seemed to Stephen at first to be nothing more than a steady drone. Yet as he listened he became aware of minor variations-slight movements of finger tips that bent the pitches the most minute amount, subtle changes in the speed and force of the bow that almost created a rhythm without there being any true beat-and within those mutations was very nearly born a melody, though it was no style of song he was familiar with. It was as alien as some of the many creatures he’d dissected, but it was also strangely comforting, and he swore that he could hear it still, echoing in his mind, after Jack had taken the violin from beneath his chin and rested it across his knees.
Jack looked up and met Stephens gaze with an abashed grin. “Don’t think I’ll ever get that one right”, he said.
Stephen shook his head. “Nonsense joy, it was quite lovely. I’ve never heard it’s like before, what was it?”
“What was it?” Jack laughed and beat his fist lightly on his knee.
Stephen pursed his mouth in displeasure. “Come Jack, I was trying to pay you a compliment, and here you laugh.”
Jack trailed off, though his voice was still full of mirth. “Calm yourself Stephen. It is just... Close your eyes and tell me what you hear.”
Stephen stared at him a moment, feeling contrary, but finally Jack’s wide grin caused his to heave a sigh and do as he was instructed. He heard nothing out of the ordinary; just the usual creaks and groans of the ship, and the shouts, movements, and songs of her men. He was opening his eyes to tell Jack this, when suddenly that strange melody was there. It was soft and seemed to come from nowhere in particular, but it was there, underlying everything.
He opened his eyes in wonderment, and saw Jack’s grin change to that of a little boy sharing his happiest secret.
“You hear it then?” Jack asked in a joyful voice.
“Yes, I do.” Stephen replied. “And again I must ask: What is it?”
Jack sat back in his chair, and gestured upwards with his bow. “It is the Surprise, or her rigging at least. She’s flat, as her main shrouds have come a trifle looser than she likes, but she riding happy nonetheless.”
“I am in amazement brother, that you can tell that just by listening.”
Jack shrugged. “And I am in amazement that you can tell the difference between a one beetle and the next.”
“Well,” Stephen replied, “it is in the details. Beetles vary greatly in their...”
Jack held up his hand to halt Stephen’s explanation before it could turn into an hours long speech. “Yes, in the details. Come, set you instrument down, there’s something else I want to show you.”
He raised an eyebrow as he watched Jack carefully set his violin down, but his curiosity was aroused; he set down his ‘cello carefully and followed Jack across the sloping great cabin into his smaller night cabin. Jack took his hand and placed it lightly against the Surprise’s hull; moving it so that his palm was lightly cupped, then he stood close and placed his own hand next to Stephen’s. There was a prickle across the back of Stephen’s neck, as there always was when Jack would stand this close, but Stephen ruthlessly ignored it, and prepared himself to listen to what his friend would say.
“They say she is old and outmoded,” Jack began softly, “but she is very handy, and very fast if she is well handled. The problem is that everyone these days is caught up in the latest treatise or scientific explanation, the newest design. They bury their noses in books, and forget to listen, to observe. Forget what it is to truly sail.”
Stephen found himself breathing shallowly; he felt a small bead of sweat roll down the side of his face. There was heat pouring off of Jack’s body warming him, even as the man’s voice lulled him like laudanum, and beneath his hand he became aware of the smallest of vibrations-a feel very like a living creature. This last part he told Jack, and Stephen could feel him nod.
“Yes, and they are perfect. Her hull is not straining at all, despite the seas being somewhat heavy, and she could carry a larger press of sail without any trouble. But for once I wish to take my time.” He pulled away, and Stephen nearly shivered at the loss of closeness. He turned, hand still resting on her side.
“You believe they still intend to break her down?”, he asked carefully.
Jack gave him a sad smile. “The Admiralty rarely changes their minds.” He reached up and ran his hand lightly, lovingly, across one of her beams and sighed. “I will miss her Stephen. I will miss her terribly. Ah well, there’s nothing to be done. Shall we try the new Corelli tonight?”
Stephen nodded and watched a Jack moved back into the great cabin; his pace slower, and shoulders more slumped, than was normal for him. Beneath his hand the Surprise’s pulse beat still. Perhaps, he thought to himself, perhaps it need not end like that.
Note: for those that requested drabbles/ficlets, I just realised that my final is Saturday, and thus wont beable to do them till this week end. I don't consisder the challange closed, so if ya want something, drop a line. I will warn that my drabbles always seem to grow. *g*
Lin, I will write you another one this weekend using the title you requested. This just popped out of my head and demanded to be written. :-D
Also, a big thank you. I never would have attempted ficcing O'Brian's world without your asking for it.
Title: Listen
Author: Monkeypuzzle
Fandom: Aubrey/Maturin novels
Pairing: Aubrey/Maturin/Surprise
Rating: PG-13
Summery: "There was the strangest sound coming from Jack’s violin..."
A/N: Takes place after Treason's Harbour, though it is really spoiler free. Written for linaelyn for the Drabble Meme. Um, it grew a bit.
There was the strangest sound coming from Jack’s violin; Stephen looked up from his own tuning to attend closer. Jack’s eyes were shut and his brow furrowed, exerting immense concentration on what seemed to Stephen at first to be nothing more than a steady drone. Yet as he listened he became aware of minor variations-slight movements of finger tips that bent the pitches the most minute amount, subtle changes in the speed and force of the bow that almost created a rhythm without there being any true beat-and within those mutations was very nearly born a melody, though it was no style of song he was familiar with. It was as alien as some of the many creatures he’d dissected, but it was also strangely comforting, and he swore that he could hear it still, echoing in his mind, after Jack had taken the violin from beneath his chin and rested it across his knees.
Jack looked up and met Stephens gaze with an abashed grin. “Don’t think I’ll ever get that one right”, he said.
Stephen shook his head. “Nonsense joy, it was quite lovely. I’ve never heard it’s like before, what was it?”
“What was it?” Jack laughed and beat his fist lightly on his knee.
Stephen pursed his mouth in displeasure. “Come Jack, I was trying to pay you a compliment, and here you laugh.”
Jack trailed off, though his voice was still full of mirth. “Calm yourself Stephen. It is just... Close your eyes and tell me what you hear.”
Stephen stared at him a moment, feeling contrary, but finally Jack’s wide grin caused his to heave a sigh and do as he was instructed. He heard nothing out of the ordinary; just the usual creaks and groans of the ship, and the shouts, movements, and songs of her men. He was opening his eyes to tell Jack this, when suddenly that strange melody was there. It was soft and seemed to come from nowhere in particular, but it was there, underlying everything.
He opened his eyes in wonderment, and saw Jack’s grin change to that of a little boy sharing his happiest secret.
“You hear it then?” Jack asked in a joyful voice.
“Yes, I do.” Stephen replied. “And again I must ask: What is it?”
Jack sat back in his chair, and gestured upwards with his bow. “It is the Surprise, or her rigging at least. She’s flat, as her main shrouds have come a trifle looser than she likes, but she riding happy nonetheless.”
“I am in amazement brother, that you can tell that just by listening.”
Jack shrugged. “And I am in amazement that you can tell the difference between a one beetle and the next.”
“Well,” Stephen replied, “it is in the details. Beetles vary greatly in their...”
Jack held up his hand to halt Stephen’s explanation before it could turn into an hours long speech. “Yes, in the details. Come, set you instrument down, there’s something else I want to show you.”
He raised an eyebrow as he watched Jack carefully set his violin down, but his curiosity was aroused; he set down his ‘cello carefully and followed Jack across the sloping great cabin into his smaller night cabin. Jack took his hand and placed it lightly against the Surprise’s hull; moving it so that his palm was lightly cupped, then he stood close and placed his own hand next to Stephen’s. There was a prickle across the back of Stephen’s neck, as there always was when Jack would stand this close, but Stephen ruthlessly ignored it, and prepared himself to listen to what his friend would say.
“They say she is old and outmoded,” Jack began softly, “but she is very handy, and very fast if she is well handled. The problem is that everyone these days is caught up in the latest treatise or scientific explanation, the newest design. They bury their noses in books, and forget to listen, to observe. Forget what it is to truly sail.”
Stephen found himself breathing shallowly; he felt a small bead of sweat roll down the side of his face. There was heat pouring off of Jack’s body warming him, even as the man’s voice lulled him like laudanum, and beneath his hand he became aware of the smallest of vibrations-a feel very like a living creature. This last part he told Jack, and Stephen could feel him nod.
“Yes, and they are perfect. Her hull is not straining at all, despite the seas being somewhat heavy, and she could carry a larger press of sail without any trouble. But for once I wish to take my time.” He pulled away, and Stephen nearly shivered at the loss of closeness. He turned, hand still resting on her side.
“You believe they still intend to break her down?”, he asked carefully.
Jack gave him a sad smile. “The Admiralty rarely changes their minds.” He reached up and ran his hand lightly, lovingly, across one of her beams and sighed. “I will miss her Stephen. I will miss her terribly. Ah well, there’s nothing to be done. Shall we try the new Corelli tonight?”
Stephen nodded and watched a Jack moved back into the great cabin; his pace slower, and shoulders more slumped, than was normal for him. Beneath his hand the Surprise’s pulse beat still. Perhaps, he thought to himself, perhaps it need not end like that.
Note: for those that requested drabbles/ficlets, I just realised that my final is Saturday, and thus wont beable to do them till this week end. I don't consisder the challange closed, so if ya want something, drop a line. I will warn that my drabbles always seem to grow. *g*