sleeeeepy, and fic
Feb. 10th, 2005 04:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivendellroseI'm tired, so screw working on Grettir's Saga for the moment.
I had the brilliant idea a few weeks ago that "hey, I should write a little ficlet type thing with a different pairing for each day the week before Valentine's Day." Of course, then I remembered that I have SCHOOL. But that doesn't mean I don't still want to write some Valentine's fics, so... here's my first little effort, brought on by sitting around the dinner table last night chatting about "Highlander."
Title: Valentine's at Joe's
Rating: G
Fandom/pairing: Highlander, no pairing
Dedicated to the housemates. It's all their fault. ;)
The bar was nearly empty, and Joe wasn't expecting it to get much more lively any time that night - who wanted to hang out in a dark bar on Valentine's evening? Couples would be going somewhere a bit softer and more romantic, and the lonely-hearts would seek out louder and more active bars to spend their evening, or just get drunk on their own couches where they could have privacy. So he caught up on cleaning, planning to make every glass in the bar sparkle before allowing himself the reward of jamming new takes on a few old jazz classics until closing time. Around six, though, the door opened and thumped closed, and Joe looked up in time to see Methos slouch onto a bar-stool in front of him, hanging his head so low that his prominent Roman nose nearly touched the dark wood of the bar.
"Beer."
Joe nodded and brought a bottle of the immortal's usual brew, opening it for him and setting it near his ear. Methos took it without lifting his head, and pressed the cold glass against his forehead. "Didn't think you'd come here." The 'least of all tonight' remained unspoken, but understood by both men.
"Better than sitting in my flat," Methos replied, finally lifting his head to sip the beer.
"You prefer me to a flat full of musty old books? I'm touched, Adam - I didn't know you cared."
"Ah, the growl of a grizzled old wolf - be still my heart."
Joe snorted. "Just drink your beer, Pierson. I don't need you going Socrates on me."
Normalcy thus restored, Joe returned to his cleaning, and Methos settled into what Joe liked to think of as the beginning of a quiet, hops-laden immortal sulk. Christ knew he'd seen Macleod in enough of them to know the look. For a time, silence reigned, and Joe mentally revised his plan for the evening to include balancing the books rather than jamming. Then, the door opened again, and from the look on Methos' face, it wasn't just a passing mortal tourist.
"Hey, Joe."
"Richie, what the hell are you doing here? I thought Macleod said you had a date tonight!"
The young immortal flopped onto a stool, loosening his handsome red necktie and tossing his black dinner jacket and a heart-shaped box of chocolates onto the table behind him. "Yeah, I did."
Methos looked up. "You do know it's only seven, don't you? We didn't end dates that early when people were still burning oil lamps to light rooms after nightfall."
"Shut it, okay? We had a fight."
"Ah. Alas, young love - always such a trial." Methos smirked and turned back to his beer, either missing or effectively ignoring the lewd gesture the younger immortal tossed his way.
"Alright, then, Richie - first beer's on the house, in that case. What'd you and your girl fight about this time?"
"I don't even know. I don't know what the hell's wrong with her." He turned and retrieved the chocolates, popping the top and tossing aside the tissue that covered the collection. "I can sure as hell say I'm done with her, though."
"Charming." Methos reached over his shoulder and snagged a dark truffle. "I feel such a warm confidence in the future, seeing the deep wisdom and understanding of our youth."
"What part of 'fuck off' do you not understand, man?" Richie snapped. "And quit eating my chocolates."
Joe shook his head and popped a chocolate-covered almond cluster. "Both of you, quit it. Last thing I need is police asking me what the hell you two were doing with swords in my bar. Not to mention having to listen to Mac bitch me out if I let you come to blows."
Both immortals fell silent for a moment, though whether from the scolding or the silence-inducing powers of chocolate caramels was unclear. Not that it mattered.
"You know, chocolates and beer aren't a bad mix," Methos commented to no one in particular.
"Just can't leave a silence, can you?" Richie scoffed, then turned to face the door, clearly wary. Methos did the same, seeming to shrink in his over-sized coat. Joe followed their gaze, ready for anything.
Except what he got.
"How about a whiskey, Joe?"
"Mac?! What the hell are you doing here?" Richie stared at his mentor.
"I'm with the kid, Mac - never would have thought you'd be the type to spend Valentine's in a bar without a woman. Or are you just stopping by on the way out?"
Duncan swung onto a stool between Methos and Richie and shook his head, smiling. "No, no date tonight. It just didn't seem that important, this year."
"The apocalypse must be nigh," Methos smirked. "Duncan Macleod, of the clan Macleod, just admitted that other things might be more important than women."
"If you drop it, I'll buy you another beer," Duncan offered lightly.
"Far be it from me to refuse such a generous offer." Methos shook his head. "Well, then. Here we all are. Anyone know any good drinking games?"
"How 'bout a nice game of 'I never?'" Richie suggested with a devilish grin.
"I think not," Methos replied.
"Ohhh, no," Joe interjected. "You three are not getting into that here in my bar. I don't wanna hear you all arguing over whether what Methos did back in the second century counts for a game now, and I don't want him drunk off his ass because he's done everything in the damned world."
"Eh, fine - spoil our fun." Richie reached for another chocolate, only to have it snapped right out from under his fingers by Duncan, who popped it into his mouth with a smug grin. "Hey!"
"Alright, boys, settle down. Mac, watch the bar, will you? I'm gonna play a set."
Methos pulled a hurt-puppy face. "Can't I watch the bar?"
"You'd drink my entire stock, you antediluvian sop." Joe snorted and edged around the bar up to the stage, slipping his guitar-strap over his shoulder. "At least I know Mac won't drink a drop without paying me, and will keep you and curly from taking each other's heads."
"You have no faith in me, Joe," Methos sighed.
"And wisely so. Here, drink up. My tab." Duncan handed Methos another beer, and stole another chocolate from Richie, who put up only a token complaint this time.
As the strains of Joe's guitar filled the bar, Methos sat back, sipping his beer with a thoughtful expression, and Duncan and Richie pulled out a deck of cards, and started a game of poker, with the stakes quickly escalating from peanuts to chocolates. After the first few hands, Duncan started throwing beers into the pot, and Methos scooted in to watch. Outside the bar, lovers and sweethearts went about their courtship, but inside there was only the cheerful bickering of a trio of deathless men, and the sweet chops of a grizzled, but contented, Watcher.
I had the brilliant idea a few weeks ago that "hey, I should write a little ficlet type thing with a different pairing for each day the week before Valentine's Day." Of course, then I remembered that I have SCHOOL. But that doesn't mean I don't still want to write some Valentine's fics, so... here's my first little effort, brought on by sitting around the dinner table last night chatting about "Highlander."
Title: Valentine's at Joe's
Rating: G
Fandom/pairing: Highlander, no pairing
Dedicated to the housemates. It's all their fault. ;)
The bar was nearly empty, and Joe wasn't expecting it to get much more lively any time that night - who wanted to hang out in a dark bar on Valentine's evening? Couples would be going somewhere a bit softer and more romantic, and the lonely-hearts would seek out louder and more active bars to spend their evening, or just get drunk on their own couches where they could have privacy. So he caught up on cleaning, planning to make every glass in the bar sparkle before allowing himself the reward of jamming new takes on a few old jazz classics until closing time. Around six, though, the door opened and thumped closed, and Joe looked up in time to see Methos slouch onto a bar-stool in front of him, hanging his head so low that his prominent Roman nose nearly touched the dark wood of the bar.
"Beer."
Joe nodded and brought a bottle of the immortal's usual brew, opening it for him and setting it near his ear. Methos took it without lifting his head, and pressed the cold glass against his forehead. "Didn't think you'd come here." The 'least of all tonight' remained unspoken, but understood by both men.
"Better than sitting in my flat," Methos replied, finally lifting his head to sip the beer.
"You prefer me to a flat full of musty old books? I'm touched, Adam - I didn't know you cared."
"Ah, the growl of a grizzled old wolf - be still my heart."
Joe snorted. "Just drink your beer, Pierson. I don't need you going Socrates on me."
Normalcy thus restored, Joe returned to his cleaning, and Methos settled into what Joe liked to think of as the beginning of a quiet, hops-laden immortal sulk. Christ knew he'd seen Macleod in enough of them to know the look. For a time, silence reigned, and Joe mentally revised his plan for the evening to include balancing the books rather than jamming. Then, the door opened again, and from the look on Methos' face, it wasn't just a passing mortal tourist.
"Hey, Joe."
"Richie, what the hell are you doing here? I thought Macleod said you had a date tonight!"
The young immortal flopped onto a stool, loosening his handsome red necktie and tossing his black dinner jacket and a heart-shaped box of chocolates onto the table behind him. "Yeah, I did."
Methos looked up. "You do know it's only seven, don't you? We didn't end dates that early when people were still burning oil lamps to light rooms after nightfall."
"Shut it, okay? We had a fight."
"Ah. Alas, young love - always such a trial." Methos smirked and turned back to his beer, either missing or effectively ignoring the lewd gesture the younger immortal tossed his way.
"Alright, then, Richie - first beer's on the house, in that case. What'd you and your girl fight about this time?"
"I don't even know. I don't know what the hell's wrong with her." He turned and retrieved the chocolates, popping the top and tossing aside the tissue that covered the collection. "I can sure as hell say I'm done with her, though."
"Charming." Methos reached over his shoulder and snagged a dark truffle. "I feel such a warm confidence in the future, seeing the deep wisdom and understanding of our youth."
"What part of 'fuck off' do you not understand, man?" Richie snapped. "And quit eating my chocolates."
Joe shook his head and popped a chocolate-covered almond cluster. "Both of you, quit it. Last thing I need is police asking me what the hell you two were doing with swords in my bar. Not to mention having to listen to Mac bitch me out if I let you come to blows."
Both immortals fell silent for a moment, though whether from the scolding or the silence-inducing powers of chocolate caramels was unclear. Not that it mattered.
"You know, chocolates and beer aren't a bad mix," Methos commented to no one in particular.
"Just can't leave a silence, can you?" Richie scoffed, then turned to face the door, clearly wary. Methos did the same, seeming to shrink in his over-sized coat. Joe followed their gaze, ready for anything.
Except what he got.
"How about a whiskey, Joe?"
"Mac?! What the hell are you doing here?" Richie stared at his mentor.
"I'm with the kid, Mac - never would have thought you'd be the type to spend Valentine's in a bar without a woman. Or are you just stopping by on the way out?"
Duncan swung onto a stool between Methos and Richie and shook his head, smiling. "No, no date tonight. It just didn't seem that important, this year."
"The apocalypse must be nigh," Methos smirked. "Duncan Macleod, of the clan Macleod, just admitted that other things might be more important than women."
"If you drop it, I'll buy you another beer," Duncan offered lightly.
"Far be it from me to refuse such a generous offer." Methos shook his head. "Well, then. Here we all are. Anyone know any good drinking games?"
"How 'bout a nice game of 'I never?'" Richie suggested with a devilish grin.
"I think not," Methos replied.
"Ohhh, no," Joe interjected. "You three are not getting into that here in my bar. I don't wanna hear you all arguing over whether what Methos did back in the second century counts for a game now, and I don't want him drunk off his ass because he's done everything in the damned world."
"Eh, fine - spoil our fun." Richie reached for another chocolate, only to have it snapped right out from under his fingers by Duncan, who popped it into his mouth with a smug grin. "Hey!"
"Alright, boys, settle down. Mac, watch the bar, will you? I'm gonna play a set."
Methos pulled a hurt-puppy face. "Can't I watch the bar?"
"You'd drink my entire stock, you antediluvian sop." Joe snorted and edged around the bar up to the stage, slipping his guitar-strap over his shoulder. "At least I know Mac won't drink a drop without paying me, and will keep you and curly from taking each other's heads."
"You have no faith in me, Joe," Methos sighed.
"And wisely so. Here, drink up. My tab." Duncan handed Methos another beer, and stole another chocolate from Richie, who put up only a token complaint this time.
As the strains of Joe's guitar filled the bar, Methos sat back, sipping his beer with a thoughtful expression, and Duncan and Richie pulled out a deck of cards, and started a game of poker, with the stakes quickly escalating from peanuts to chocolates. After the first few hands, Duncan started throwing beers into the pot, and Methos scooted in to watch. Outside the bar, lovers and sweethearts went about their courtship, but inside there was only the cheerful bickering of a trio of deathless men, and the sweet chops of a grizzled, but contented, Watcher.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-02-11 02:08 am (UTC)I was absolutely floored by this. You have all four of thier voices down perfectly. I could literally hear it all. Especially the back and forth sniping between Joe, Richie and Methos. The speech patterns, the vocabulary, the described body language.... it was all spot on. This seriously, seriously made my night.
(Kari thought it was awesome, too.)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-11 02:17 am (UTC)Yay, I'm glad you guys liked it!
(...and this is probably a good sign that I need to make myself a Highlander icon. There's something wrong with using a DS9 icon to reply for a Highlander fic.)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-11 05:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-11 08:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-11 02:12 am (UTC)Great characterizations! I love it. You've captured the atmosphere too. Love the feeling of 'everything's all right' at the end.
*adds to memories*
no subject
Date: 2005-02-11 02:19 am (UTC)I've only been watching it for the last month or so, on DVD. I'm kind of sorry I missed it on first run, now, but at least I can watch DVDs at my leisure, and without commercials. ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 11:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 07:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 10:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 12:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 12:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 12:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 12:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 01:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 01:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 02:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 03:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 04:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-22 04:09 am (UTC)This was such a great fic. I love reading about the friendships between these guys.
Great job. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-02-22 05:31 am (UTC)