scribblinlenore: (secret smiling girl by Signe)
[personal profile] scribblinlenore
Here's the first of my fic on request. That whole two sentences thing? *laughs* Yeah, that went by the wayside.

For: [livejournal.com profile] writerlibrarian
Fandom: Master and Commander
Pairing: Jack/Stephen
Prompt: Music



The violin's phrasing during the allegro was slurred in places. The cello tried to make up in boldness what it lacked in finesse. The pause before the ultimate crescendo was rather too long, melodramatic, gaudy even, but Stephen leaned forward in his chair anyway, drawing in a breath, holding it, while the players pressed on to messy, passionate finality. The last note rang in the air for what felt like an age, and then the audience broke the spell with its appreciation, and Stephen sank back against his seat. He'd heard finer performances certainly; music was not chief among the pleasures of Portsmouth. But the conviction in each note, however imperfect, left an ache in his chest that a more flawless execution could not have.

Afterwards, he walked back to the lodging house, collar turned up against the evening wind blowing in off the water. In his breast pocket was the letter, carefully folded, tenderly preserved.

My dearest heart,

The voyage continues smoothly. The Arabella rides the waves just as pretty as you please, and the winds have been with us this fortnight. I expect to see the shores of England before another month has passed. My only complaint is one you may easily guess. The decks seem strangely empty, my bunk sadly cold, and they have since we set sail all those months ago. My joy can never be complete without you, my dear Stephen. I count the moments until I have you by my side again…


Jack had written that in July; the Arabella was now more than two months overdue.

At Stephen's lodgings, the landlady met him at the door.

"Will you be wanting your supper, Dr. Maturin?" she asked, her gaze sliding away from his.

"Just a bottle of port, if you please, Mrs. Hardy."

"Very good, sir."

She hurried off to the kitchen, relieved to be done with him. These days, everyone shied away from his company. Even Tom Pullings had not been able to look him in the eye when he'd come down from London to talk sense into him, "You must give this up, Doctor. Go home. The Royal Navy has declared the ship missing, presumed lost…"

Stephen mounted the stairs to his rooms, his tread heavy and tired. He shed his coat and hat carelessly, making Mrs. Hardy frown when she came in with the decanter.

"Will that be all, sir?"

He nodded, and when she was gone, poured himself a glass and raised it. "My dearest Jack, joy may be delayed, but it will not be denied us. And I will be here waiting when you come."

Date: 2005-10-09 02:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mahaliem.livejournal.com
Although I'm not part of this fandom, I enjoyed this immensely.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Awww, that's the best compliment ever! Glad you enjoyed it, doll. I'd kind of forgotten how much I love Jack and Stephen. But I really do!

Date: 2005-10-09 03:53 am (UTC)
ext_21494: (Default)
From: [identity profile] like-cheap-wine.livejournal.com
Awww, poor lonely doctor.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
*nods* He is so lonely without Jack! But I imagine that Jack will turn up eventually.

Date: 2005-10-09 04:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pun.livejournal.com
Oh my god! You are so mean!! I am so sad now.

This was great!

Date: 2005-10-21 10:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I am so mean to poor Stephen. It's true! But the unwritten part of this, of course, is how Jack turns up eventually, having actually gone on a secret mission and as a cover he had to let it be assumed that he was lost at sea. He returns a hero, and he and Stephen celebrate the victory in private. :)

Date: 2005-10-09 04:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tall-tree.livejournal.com
*wibbles* That was perfectly heartbreaking. Loved that last line.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I haven't written Jack and Stephen for a while, and I'd really missed them.

Date: 2005-10-09 07:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] soulmate815.livejournal.com
wow. very sweet. I liked this very much. I may have to pull out the M & C DVD...

Date: 2005-10-21 10:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Jack and Stephen really are so romantic. I may do some O'Brien reading this weekend.

Date: 2005-10-09 01:34 pm (UTC)
writerlibrarian: (Default)
From: [personal profile] writerlibrarian
Thank you. So lovely.

The opening: Stephen and music. Loved it.

Very in synch with the mood of the books.

Again thank you.

Off to print it. To keep.

: )

Date: 2005-10-21 10:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the wonderful prompt!

Date: 2005-10-09 02:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ex-niciasus652.livejournal.com
Do you know I had to read that ending twice. My poor dark brains. *gg* Okay, Stephen will be fine because Jack will be fine and all ends well.

Date: 2005-10-09 02:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ex-niciasus652.livejournal.com
The story was lovely!

Date: 2005-10-21 10:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
You read it right! Jack will definitely be fine. I'm not *that* cruel. *g*

Glad you enjoyed it!

Date: 2005-10-09 02:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rhiannonhero.livejournal.com
Oh, the lovely love! :) Thank you. It was gorgeous. You do period writing so well.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Oh, thanks so much, Rhi! That's nice to hear. I'm never sure if my stabs at period writing are coming off. So glad you enjoyed this!

Date: 2005-10-09 03:12 pm (UTC)
astolat: lady of shalott weaving in black and white (Default)
From: [personal profile] astolat
Oh, yay! Jack and Stephen! This was just lovely.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed this! I haven't written Jack and Stephen in a long time. And I've missed them.

Date: 2005-10-09 03:42 pm (UTC)
ext_1885: (Default)
From: [identity profile] twoweevils.livejournal.com
Mmmm. Nice. Jack's letter was perfect just as pretty as you please...

*sigh*

M.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Jack and Stephen are such a romantic pair. I've missed them!

Date: 2005-10-09 05:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tradesland.livejournal.com


oh I heart you!!!


lovely to "see" them like this, hopeful rather than sad,delayed rather than denied. I find that to be one of the things I love the most about this pairing.

Thank you.

Date: 2005-10-21 10:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed this, doll! I'd kind of forgotten how much I love this pair, but writing them again definitely reminded me.

Date: 2005-10-09 09:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chicklet-girl.livejournal.com
*gasp*

But it's --

Okay, there *has* to be --

You can't just --

*sputter sputter sputter*

In my head I am imagining the joyful reunion after Jack makes his way to Portsmouth from the shipwreck off the coast of Portugal, SO THERE, LITTLE MISS MEANIE-PANTS. *pouts*

Date: 2005-10-21 10:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Absolutely! Jack may be lost, but it's not forever. Soon there will be a very joyous reunion at that boarding house in Portsmouth.

I'm not *that* mean, you know! *bg*

Date: 2005-11-20 10:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gairid.livejournal.com
Finely written; your phrasing and nuance is impeccable and your description of the music Stephen is listening to is wonderful! I really enjoyed this story.

Date: 2005-11-22 01:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story!

Date: 2005-11-21 12:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chained-doll.livejournal.com
thank you very much, i've enjoyed this little piece of art more than i could tell with just a few typed words..

Date: 2005-11-22 01:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Oh, thank you! That's so lovely to hear. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!

Date: 2005-11-21 02:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] toithaka.livejournal.com
Wonderful little story. It was bittersweet and poignant, and I especially loved the description of the music in the first paragraph. Not very many people can write about music in such a way that makes you really feel it. Great job. :)

Date: 2005-11-22 01:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! I'm very pleased you enjoyed it. And my mother will be glad to know all those piano lessons she paid for came in handy for something. *g*

Date: 2005-11-21 04:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cagedwriter61.livejournal.com
Beautiful. You've captured their love.

Date: 2005-11-22 01:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you thought so. Thank you!

Date: 2005-11-21 07:46 am (UTC)
ext_1611: Isis statue (Default)
From: [identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com
Aw! Very sweet and achy.

Date: 2005-11-22 01:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

FB

Date: 2005-11-21 09:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faestion.livejournal.com
Hmmm. It is so good to get another fix of M&C fic. I have sorely missed being able to just click on Duet and read when I felt the need. I liked this. It has both an air of melancholy, and a determined belief that Jack will return. Stephen is devoted to the idea his Jack will come back to him. I can only pray such is the case... Hee! listen to me! I am so caught up I am talking as if it were real...lovely work.
hugs neichan

Re: FB

Date: 2005-11-30 08:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
So glad you enjoyed this! And, yes, I definitely envision Jack coming back to Stephen. It would just be wrong if he didn't!

Date: 2005-11-23 06:08 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
More???? *ish hopeful*

Date: 2005-11-30 08:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
I really do owe Jack and Stephen a joyful reunion. If I get some time, I will try to write it. :)

Date: 2005-11-26 08:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wicked-warrior.livejournal.com
Wonderfuly writen :) Hope Jack comes back safely! Poor dear Stephen ...

Date: 2005-11-30 08:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com
So glad you enjoyed this. And, yes, Jack definitely returns to Stephen. It wouldn't be right if the story ended any other way. :)

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