ballet!Francis. I'd prefer an AU, but canon is ok. I don't care how you solve it, or how they meet (maybe Arthur works at the theatre, maybe he's in the audience - it's up to you). I'd prefer it if Arthur couldn't dance at all, though. Like. Seriously. Not. At. All.
Small Steps [3/?]mikkary_bonesOctober 7 2011, 01:00:36 UTC
v
It takes two weeks for Arthur to lose his temper. Not that Francis has been keeping track.
"Have you eaten today?" Arthur asks as usual.
"No," Francis replies, as usual. He doesn't often eat. There's no reason to; he's not expending very many calories. He used to eat a lot, when he was dancing. He needed to stay fit.
Now, his muscle is disappearing. He doesn't want it to turn into fat. And there is barely anything in the refrigerator.
"Do you ever eat?" Arthur asks. His patience has been wearing thin all week. Francis can hear the pure exasperation in his voice.
"Sometimes," he says. He's not pretending to read today. He stares out the window. The clouds look interesting enough.
"Do you move?" Arthur continues. Francis sees him take two steps forward and then stop, his body straining against some invisible barrier. It's very like a dance, he thinks, and stops thinking about that
( ... )
Small Steps [4/?]mikkary_bonesOctober 7 2011, 01:02:29 UTC
vi
The next day Elizaveta comes to him. They have been friends since they met at a party; she was tipsy and Francis was flirtatious; he kissed her and she hit him over the head. Their relationship improved after that; she is probably Francis's closest friend outside the ballet company.
"Arthur called me last night," she says after letting herself in. Francis wonders whether he does not bother to lock the door or everyone just happens to have a spare key. "He talked about you."
Francis closes his book - a courtesy for Eliza. "Oh?" he asks. It is easier, with Elizaveta, to get words past the weight on his chest. She does not bring all the mornings with her.
"Francis..." she says, looking at him and sighing. Francis sees all the words on the tip of her tongue - you never go out, you need some fresh air, you're not smiling, you're taking too much medication, this isn't healthy, you can't live this way, why can't you get over it? - but then she glances away. "He's coming over as a favor, and I think you could use the company
( ... )
Re: Small Steps [5/?]fireblazieOctober 7 2011, 01:37:41 UTC
Ooh, you know, I really like this. It's really heartbreaking, and, just, to see this side of Francis - completely broken - it's gorgeously written. I hope you'll continue!
Re: Small Steps [5/?]ikkjevaksenOctober 7 2011, 17:42:35 UTC
I. I'm really speechless. This was everything I expected and so much more. Wow. I love your Francis - I love him so so so. Thank you. Really. Thank you.
Small Steps [5b/?]mikkary_bonesOctober 7 2011, 18:05:14 UTC
(I'm basically copy/pasting from a WIP that is very long. Once I finish it, I'll just post it on my journal and post a link here, but until then... Also, I would have posted more last night, but the comment system was being wonky so I just went to bed.)
"Ah, well." Arthur laces his hands together on his lap, stares at his fingers, stares out the window. "I was just wondering if there was anything... on your mind."
A flash of Francis's old, fiery nature returns and he thinks are you waiting for me to apologize? But it's gone as soon as he notices and instead he says, "No."
Arthur's lips thin. "All right. I just wanted to say, I mean..." He makes an effort to look Francis in the eye. "Look. Elizaveta is doing her best for you - we're all doing are best for you - but you're not responding." He glanced away, twisted his fingers in his lap, swallowed, met Francis's eyes again. "You just sit there, and do you know how hard it is to keep coming back, keep trying, and get the same response? Get nothingFrancis is almost
( ... )
Small Steps [6/?]mikkary_bonesOctober 7 2011, 18:05:47 UTC
x
It's selfish, but Francis makes a catalog of everyone who would miss him if he died. He thinks Ivan would miss him, even though the big Russian man is undoubtedly the new danseur noble of the company. He thinks Natalya, Ivan's sister and the grand ballerina, will miss him as well
( ... )
(AM I DOING THIS RIGHT.......)
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It takes two weeks for Arthur to lose his temper. Not that Francis has been keeping track.
"Have you eaten today?" Arthur asks as usual.
"No," Francis replies, as usual. He doesn't often eat. There's no reason to; he's not expending very many calories. He used to eat a lot, when he was dancing. He needed to stay fit.
Now, his muscle is disappearing. He doesn't want it to turn into fat. And there is barely anything in the refrigerator.
"Do you ever eat?" Arthur asks. His patience has been wearing thin all week. Francis can hear the pure exasperation in his voice.
"Sometimes," he says. He's not pretending to read today. He stares out the window. The clouds look interesting enough.
"Do you move?" Arthur continues. Francis sees him take two steps forward and then stop, his body straining against some invisible barrier. It's very like a dance, he thinks, and stops thinking about that ( ... )
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The next day Elizaveta comes to him. They have been friends since they met at a party; she was tipsy and Francis was flirtatious; he kissed her and she hit him over the head. Their relationship improved after that; she is probably Francis's closest friend outside the ballet company.
"Arthur called me last night," she says after letting herself in. Francis wonders whether he does not bother to lock the door or everyone just happens to have a spare key. "He talked about you."
Francis closes his book - a courtesy for Eliza. "Oh?" he asks. It is easier, with Elizaveta, to get words past the weight on his chest. She does not bring all the mornings with her.
"Francis..." she says, looking at him and sighing. Francis sees all the words on the tip of her tongue - you never go out, you need some fresh air, you're not smiling, you're taking too much medication, this isn't healthy, you can't live this way, why can't you get over it? - but then she glances away. "He's coming over as a favor, and I think you could use the company ( ... )
Reply
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"Ah, well." Arthur laces his hands together on his lap, stares at his fingers, stares out the window. "I was just wondering if there was anything... on your mind."
A flash of Francis's old, fiery nature returns and he thinks are you waiting for me to apologize? But it's gone as soon as he notices and instead he says, "No."
Arthur's lips thin. "All right. I just wanted to say, I mean..." He makes an effort to look Francis in the eye. "Look. Elizaveta is doing her best for you - we're all doing are best for you - but you're not responding." He glanced away, twisted his fingers in his lap, swallowed, met Francis's eyes again. "You just sit there, and do you know how hard it is to keep coming back, keep trying, and get the same response? Get nothingFrancis is almost ( ... )
Reply
It's selfish, but Francis makes a catalog of everyone who would miss him if he died. He thinks Ivan would miss him, even though the big Russian man is undoubtedly the new danseur noble of the company. He thinks Natalya, Ivan's sister and the grand ballerina, will miss him as well ( ... )
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I meant to have this up like, months ago, yep, but got stuck on the ending so at least I can use it here. (Should be done soon?? /crosses fingers)
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http://mikkary-bones.livejournal.com/3007.html#cutid1
Enjoy!!
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