A-Courting We Will Go - #9 in We Are 2011 Allan/Nell universe

[nettlestonenell]

Title: A-Courting We Will Go
Author: Nettlestone Nell
Word Count: 10,447
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Allan, OC Nell, Robin, Carter, Djaq, mentions of Marian; Robin/Marian, Will/Djaq, Allan/Nell
Spoilers/Warnings: This is #9 in the "We Are 2011" universe's Allan/Nell spin-off series, "A True Outlaw Story". Sexual Situations and Adult Themes.

Comments

[sylvi10]

I had so much to say about this story before you even posted it that I thought I should wait a while, read it again, and then see if I had anything new to say before I left comments. I’m not sure I do-have anything new to say-but I’m finally going to leave some comments anyway.

First, Robin and Allan talking about sex is just as amusing as I would expect it to be. I love the comparison of Allan’s latest “experience” to a venison dinner that leaves you hungry but not for more of what you’ve just had. I also, as you know, really enjoy the Allan/Djaq conversation, how he tries to lie to her and she tells him to leave! And then her pride in him when she realizes what thoughtful words he had once said to Nell. Allan is lucky to have such friends. Between the two of them, with their advice, he’s well on his way to figuring this out at last.

I do feel badly for him, so excited to see Nell again, and she’s irritated to find him in her rooms when she’s expecting Carter. And of course, she’s doubly uneasy because of what Allan might mean to her, but he doesn’t know this and can only be disappointed and assume that he somehow deserves this response from her, that it’s the natural result of his attempt at sincerity. He’s trying so hard, but nothing is working.

His response to her saying that she does not belong to him is quite lovely and perfect: “That does not mean that we do not belong together.” And I love his internal reciting of the list of reasons they should be together.

I also really like the part where Nell discovers his scar, his seriousness about it, and his promise to tell her another time. It feels so meaningful, leaving me to assume this has to do with Gisborne and his betrayal of the gang-something I guess Nell doesn’t know about yet. I think this description is wonderful: “her fingers brushing against the newly-discovered hurt--like fingers to a lute string--learning it, cataloging it as his. A story, a tale of him.” And I have no doubt that he will tell her some day.