the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor

[leastof2weevils]

Who: Jack and Stephen.
When: Day 41, after this log!
Where: 230 Marigold Avenue.
What: The boys settle into their new lodgings.
Rating: PG for a cold, wet, and miserable physician.

Comments

[halftheduet]

Stephen Maturin looked even smaller than he usually did. Damp and with his knees tucked against his chest, he huddled in front of the fire, trying to keep himself warm. Jack's military coat was draped over his shoulders, and he clasped it tightly. He had a blanket over him as well, and the shivering had finally stopped.

His clothes were laid out on the floor not far away. They'd dry faster and so would he.

When Jack returned, Stephen raised his head. "Another blanket would be nice. Thank you, soul." He pulled the jacket tighter around him. He closed his eyes briefly. "This cold is terrible." Falling in the ocean was bad enough, certainly, but to get wet when it was so frigid outside...

He was more than miserable.

[leastof2weevils]

Jack smiled at Stephen and obliged, adding the second blanket to the rest of the other man's layers and taking a seat beside him. Though he wasn't feeling it as much as the doctor was, he was no exception to the cold; the warmth of the fire was a great comfort, as was the fact that Stephen was looking a bit more at ease, now.

He made a noise of agreement in his throat, nodding. "Miserable," he replied, reaching his hands toward the fireplace to warm them. "I trust you're warming up at least a bit, however?" he asked, a wide hand reaching to grip the vague, blanket-covered area of what Jack assumed was Stephen's shoulder.

"We seem to be well enough provided for at least a few days," he said, tone cheerier. Perhaps a change of subject would keep Stephen's mind off the chill. "Plenty of provisions to be had--as well as a number of strange devices of whose purpose I've not a clue of. What say we investigate once the fire's warmed you up right, Stephen?"

[halftheduet]

"Thank God for small-- though I suppose it's hardly a small favor." A fireplace, wood for it, blankets, food... He couldn't help but wonder, though. The home seemed to have been waiting for occupants. Had it been prepared them? That was unsettling enough. But Stephen's mind wondered something else too. What if someone else had lived here before? Been lured in? What if the same fate awaited them?

But he wouldn't worry Jack with that yet. He would just keep his eyes and ears open. Be ready.

"Yes. Yes, I'm warming up quite nicely," Stephen replied, moving closer to Jack, though the shift was almost impossible to see under the coat and two blankets. He smiled faintly. "Do keep yourself warm too, Jack. I cannot know what sort of medical supplies are available should you take ill."

Then, after a moment of thought, he added, "An examination of the house would be quite appropriate, I believe."

[leastof2weevils]

"A rather large favor, in fact," he replied. Stephen wouldn't need to worry himself about worrying Jack, as his thoughts already echoed Stephen's--this entire arrangement ached of some sort of farce. It was much too convenient. But what choice did he have but to take advantage of what supplies they'd been given? "As always, even now, we must constantly be aware--on our guard."

"Wonderful," he replied. "And not to worry, my dear. I will be perfectly fine. I do ask that you take heed of your own health." Pulling his arms closer to him, folded tightly, Jack inched closer to Stephen.

"I had a few moments to look about when I first arrived," Jack said, thoughtfully fiddling with a loosened lock of golden hair. "It wasn't much of a thorough search, I will be frank, though in those brief moments I found nothing particularly amiss."