ficlet request for stalwartspirit
"maybe something between a Victorian or Edwardian couple (m/m). Something to do with reunion..."
Although it may have seemed like it, I did not forget this. ;3 Here's some Victorian slash (set a little while before the 1851 Great Exhibition). Plenty of angst and the itty-bittiest hint of steampunk.
Title: Premature Reunion
Monstrous amounts of glass and iron rose from the ground, and although the great exhibition hall was not yet finished, Jeremy felt mildly smug to see his hard work already yielding tangible results, especially considering that he was still a young engineer. Jeremy rather thought that George would be impressed when he eventually saw it complete.
George was not an engineer, but he had had-still had, really-the potential to be one. Jeremy rather thought it was a waste to leave such a keen mind to the mercies of "high society." High society had caused their relationship nothing but trouble and had finally been the death of it. It took months for Jeremy to finally realize that he and George would not be mending this last riff between them.
And then George's note arrived, asking Jeremy to meet him in the northwest corner of Hyde Park.
The week-old note had been folded and refolded till it looked like scrap paper. Each night Jeremy placed the little paper on his rickety night stand, and during the day, he kept his tiny, worn talisman in his waistcoat pocket, reading it every couple hours with the reverence of a priest at prayer.
However, the note also made Jeremy remember how badly he and George had ended things, but despite all the sadness caused, one thing still made Jeremy go to the meeting place. It was hope. Oscillating between suspicion and betrayal, the engineer wanted to throw the note away and ignore its message (plea?). The hope stopped him.
The good memories stopped him too. George had been so sweet and caring, intelligent and handsome and charming. He and Jeremy had spent hours on their studies and inventions and each other.
Then, a few months before their schooling would finish, George had met Marianne. She was also sweet, handsome, and charming-and in possession of an inheritance so impressive that it could turn even a high class nobleman's head. It had certainly done as much to George. Jeremy wanted so much to hate her with her prim smile and delicate hands, but he just couldn't do it. Poor girl probably had no idea that Jeremy even existed. None of this mess was her fault.
It was George's. Or, to be a little fairer, his father's. Either way, George had accepted the arranged marriage, and Jeremy had walked out on the other man. It had been one godawful row, and then the two of them hadn't spoken since. It'd been over a year now.
And perhaps that's still not long enough... Jeremy had very nearly come to his senses by this point and was finally starting to edge away from the meeting spot when a soft voice called his name. Jeremy turned to see a slender, graceful man, stunningly attired. Of course it was George.
His former lover walked closer, his stride confident and purposeful, despite the nervous smile that he was clearly trying to hide. A year seemed suddenly like so much time, and in a flash Jeremy could only barely feel his old anger, and instead it was longing that made his chest feel tight. "George," he said when his companion had come close enough, "I've missed you so."
Ignoring Jeremy's dusty work clothes, George embraced him. "Oh, God, I had a whole speech in mind," the young aristocrat stammered, his face quickly turning crimson. "And-and now I must confess I've forgotten all of it. I-I love you."
Jeremy couldn't fight back the smile that lit up his face. How he'd so wanted to hear those words! And George's little stutter, the awkward blush coloring his cheeks-these things were far more endearing than any noble speech.
"Jeremy, my dear companion," George asked with hesitant hope, "will you come back to me?"
The engineer's heart slam-banged against his ribcage, and he barely held back the litany of 'yesyesyes'. "What about Marianne?" he asked instead, surprised at the steadiness of his voice.
"Is that what you're concerned about? She never has to know about us." George's smile was very nearly patronizing, and it was like an unexpected splash of cold water.
"Good God, man, she'll be your wife!"
"But I don't love her." That sweet smile again. (The anger was back tenfold and almost smothering; Jeremy had to struggle to keep from shouting.) "My dearest Jeremy, I love you."
The engineer's knees went to jelly. Damn, was it really possible to want to embrace someone but at the same time want to hit them? Yes, possible apparently but hardly fair. Jeremy did neither but instead stood his ground. "George, you know I love you too, but I won't be your second choice."
"You're my first choice! You've always been!"
Jeremy reached to grab George's shoulders "Then break off the marriage! If your father threatens to disown you, come stay with me. He'll back down, or you could stay with me indefinitely..."
Green eyes flickered away, and Jeremy's spirits fell. Ah, he thought sadly, I really am the second choice.
"...but you won't, will you, George?" He forced himself to let go and step back. "And if you won't, then we have nothing more to discuss."
Although it killed him to do so, Jeremy dug in his pocket for the note and handed it over. He was painfully grateful that his coarse work gloves and George's pale satin ones kept their bare hands from actually brushing. Jeremy knew that even something as little and silly as that might be enough to break through his resolve.
George cradled the folded letter in his broad hand and looked up, clearly hurt. "I don't understand..."
"My break's over now, George. I have to get back to work." Softly, he added, "Don't call on me again."
-fin-
Hope you liked, and I'll see you tomorrow! ^^
Although it may have seemed like it, I did not forget this. ;3 Here's some Victorian slash (set a little while before the 1851 Great Exhibition). Plenty of angst and the itty-bittiest hint of steampunk.
Title: Premature Reunion
Monstrous amounts of glass and iron rose from the ground, and although the great exhibition hall was not yet finished, Jeremy felt mildly smug to see his hard work already yielding tangible results, especially considering that he was still a young engineer. Jeremy rather thought that George would be impressed when he eventually saw it complete.
George was not an engineer, but he had had-still had, really-the potential to be one. Jeremy rather thought it was a waste to leave such a keen mind to the mercies of "high society." High society had caused their relationship nothing but trouble and had finally been the death of it. It took months for Jeremy to finally realize that he and George would not be mending this last riff between them.
And then George's note arrived, asking Jeremy to meet him in the northwest corner of Hyde Park.
The week-old note had been folded and refolded till it looked like scrap paper. Each night Jeremy placed the little paper on his rickety night stand, and during the day, he kept his tiny, worn talisman in his waistcoat pocket, reading it every couple hours with the reverence of a priest at prayer.
However, the note also made Jeremy remember how badly he and George had ended things, but despite all the sadness caused, one thing still made Jeremy go to the meeting place. It was hope. Oscillating between suspicion and betrayal, the engineer wanted to throw the note away and ignore its message (plea?). The hope stopped him.
The good memories stopped him too. George had been so sweet and caring, intelligent and handsome and charming. He and Jeremy had spent hours on their studies and inventions and each other.
Then, a few months before their schooling would finish, George had met Marianne. She was also sweet, handsome, and charming-and in possession of an inheritance so impressive that it could turn even a high class nobleman's head. It had certainly done as much to George. Jeremy wanted so much to hate her with her prim smile and delicate hands, but he just couldn't do it. Poor girl probably had no idea that Jeremy even existed. None of this mess was her fault.
It was George's. Or, to be a little fairer, his father's. Either way, George had accepted the arranged marriage, and Jeremy had walked out on the other man. It had been one godawful row, and then the two of them hadn't spoken since. It'd been over a year now.
And perhaps that's still not long enough... Jeremy had very nearly come to his senses by this point and was finally starting to edge away from the meeting spot when a soft voice called his name. Jeremy turned to see a slender, graceful man, stunningly attired. Of course it was George.
His former lover walked closer, his stride confident and purposeful, despite the nervous smile that he was clearly trying to hide. A year seemed suddenly like so much time, and in a flash Jeremy could only barely feel his old anger, and instead it was longing that made his chest feel tight. "George," he said when his companion had come close enough, "I've missed you so."
Ignoring Jeremy's dusty work clothes, George embraced him. "Oh, God, I had a whole speech in mind," the young aristocrat stammered, his face quickly turning crimson. "And-and now I must confess I've forgotten all of it. I-I love you."
Jeremy couldn't fight back the smile that lit up his face. How he'd so wanted to hear those words! And George's little stutter, the awkward blush coloring his cheeks-these things were far more endearing than any noble speech.
"Jeremy, my dear companion," George asked with hesitant hope, "will you come back to me?"
The engineer's heart slam-banged against his ribcage, and he barely held back the litany of 'yesyesyes'. "What about Marianne?" he asked instead, surprised at the steadiness of his voice.
"Is that what you're concerned about? She never has to know about us." George's smile was very nearly patronizing, and it was like an unexpected splash of cold water.
"Good God, man, she'll be your wife!"
"But I don't love her." That sweet smile again. (The anger was back tenfold and almost smothering; Jeremy had to struggle to keep from shouting.) "My dearest Jeremy, I love you."
The engineer's knees went to jelly. Damn, was it really possible to want to embrace someone but at the same time want to hit them? Yes, possible apparently but hardly fair. Jeremy did neither but instead stood his ground. "George, you know I love you too, but I won't be your second choice."
"You're my first choice! You've always been!"
Jeremy reached to grab George's shoulders "Then break off the marriage! If your father threatens to disown you, come stay with me. He'll back down, or you could stay with me indefinitely..."
Green eyes flickered away, and Jeremy's spirits fell. Ah, he thought sadly, I really am the second choice.
"...but you won't, will you, George?" He forced himself to let go and step back. "And if you won't, then we have nothing more to discuss."
Although it killed him to do so, Jeremy dug in his pocket for the note and handed it over. He was painfully grateful that his coarse work gloves and George's pale satin ones kept their bare hands from actually brushing. Jeremy knew that even something as little and silly as that might be enough to break through his resolve.
George cradled the folded letter in his broad hand and looked up, clearly hurt. "I don't understand..."
"My break's over now, George. I have to get back to work." Softly, he added, "Don't call on me again."
-fin-
Hope you liked, and I'll see you tomorrow! ^^