Primeval fic: He who laughs last
Title: He who laughs last
Word count: 100
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Lester, Becker, Leek, Connor, Abby, Jenny, Ryan
Written for P100 challenge 332: Undercover (also drabbles for 330 and 331)
AN: AU Becker/Connor Regency romance of many clichés and unlikely shenanigans.
A quick hiatus-bridging recap: Connor and Abby are the penniless wards of wealthy industrialist, James Lester, who has taken them to London to introduce them to Society. Connor has met and fallen in love with the dashing war hero, Captain Hilary Becker. Following a ballooning accident and a well-meant lie, whereby Connor claimed Becker was his husband (tis a very AU au), Becker and Connor end up sharing a room. Debaucheries ensue. This is fine for Becker but, being a nobody, Connor is now ruined and runs away intending to go home. Naturally things go wrong. There is much whumping (Connor) and angsting (Becker). Eventually Connor falls into the clutches of Leek. There is more whumping (non-con). Connor escapes but leaves behind his ring and chain. He is now safe with Jenny and Ryan ( here).
Becker and Lester have been following the trail of Connor’s lost belongings and are about to catch up with Leek (here).
*
332 - He who laughs last
Leek watched Lester’s arrival at the inn from his window.
Lester had been a business associate and a close friend. A warehouse fire ended both relationships. Lester, who had been keen enough to make money at the time and no questions asked, had become ridiculously sentimental and blamed Leek for the tragedy. As if a few deaths mattered.
Lester’s enmity had damaged Leek considerably. He eyed Connor’s ring and smiled. This evened the score. He wondered how much Lester would pay for his silence. Or if it would be more satisfying to talk and let the scandal-mongers do their worst.
*
331 - Magnetic
Force of nature
After supper the three of them retired to the small parlour. Lester read through his accounts. Abby sat on an embroidered stool by the fire with the family’s two dogs at her feet. A guinea pig snuffled contentedly in her arms.
Connor bounced around the room experimenting with a large lodestone and expounding a theory about the potential uses of magnetism in the production process.
“It all sounds very impractical,” observed Lester. “A stone and a collection of nails will never compete against steam.”
Connor grinned. “You’ll see, if the attraction is strong enough it will be impossible to resist.”
*
330 - “It’s all Greek to me.”
Machinations
Jenny and Ryan were inspecting the lower orchard.
“What do you make of our foundling’s story?” asked Jenny.
Ryan paused and kicked a windfall apple off the path. “I’m not sure what to make of it,” he admitted. “It’s such a confused tangle. He begged to be allowed to get up this morning. Do you intend keeping him in bed forever?”
She laughed at his tone. “Tempting! But, no, just for now. I feel certain that someone is looking for him and he’ll find it harder to run without day clothes. Meanwhile, I think you should do a little investigating.”
*