Chapter Two
Nov. 2nd, 2004 11:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
under_hatchesSecond chapter, 1.137 words, no slash yet.
Chapter Two, in which Stephen makes a rather strange confession, and Jack has Spotted Dog.
The stern cabin was lit by as many candles as Jack had holders for. The room was basked in a yellowish light that reflected golden in the discarded glasses on the table. Stephen looked around, surprised that only he and Jack were left of what had started as a merry circle. With all officers and midshipmen gone Stephen felt more at ease. Yet the quiet intimacy struck an unfamiliar chord in him, if not always then today.
“So, my dear doctor,” Jack said, “Can I persuade you to more wine?”
Stephen shook his head and held his hand over his glass when Jack reached for the decanter.
“I must decline, I’m afraid I already had more than my appropriate share.”
Jack smiled and filled his glass to the brim.
“Nonsense, doctor,” he then cried happily, “Let me refill your glass and make a toast.”
Stephen rolled his eyes but did not take his hand away.
“I haven’t seen you like this in a long time,” he said instead, “Whatever caused it, I’d be more than happy to see it happen again.” It couldn’t have been the wine, Stephen mused, for their last decanter was still half full, and it was only Jack’s third or fourth glass. They had shared wine before, and they had never stopped before having emptied at least three bottles. Which was the exact amount to leave Jack Aubrey flustered.
He let his index finger glide over his upper lip while he watched Jack take a careful sip. The captain was aglow tonight, being in an extraordinary good mood over the whole course of the diner, making more terrible puns than during all meals before. Stephen had accepted all jokes on his behalf with an indignant air and a hinted smile, too glad to retort. His cheeks sported a healthy tint of red from the attention bestowed on him, and he never had failed to stutter something close to a reply when the level of conversation seemed to drop below what he normally would abide.
His fingers were hiding his slow smile as he listened to Jack thinking aloud about where to go to port. He mentioned places all over the world, only pausing to see Stephen’s reaction.
“I was thinking South America,” Jack said and made a long pause.
“South America? That would be nice, to say at least. I’m certain the men would enjoy the chance to stretch their legs. They are always a little restless when the next port is too far away. And I could stock up on medical supplies. I’m in dear need of several things.” Even though he surpressed any excitement in his voice that could hint towards more personal motifs, Jack seemed to know where Stephen’s thoughts were.
“You could go on a plant hunt and search for lichens,” Jack offered nonchalantly, sipping at his wine and watching Stephen over the brim of his glass.
Stephen opened his mouth to reply but the door slammed open and Killick barged in.
“Your dessert,” Killick announced and slammed down two plates.
“Ah!” Jack cried, “Splendid, and just in time!” He waited until Killick had closed the door again, and then nudged one plate towards Stephen who looked flabbergasted.
“Don’t tell me you planned not to share this with everyone,” Stephen managed to gasp out.
“There weren’t enough currants to make a 6 pound one. And I haven’t had any pudding in years,” Jack said by way of apology. He smiled sheepishly before breaking into a big grin and crying: “My dear doctor, you should know me better than this. Those slices are leftovers! And since there wasn’t enough to share with all my men, I decided to share it with you.”
Stephen blushed and took a careful bite. He would have preferred to bite his tongue instead, but Jack seemed unimpressed by the affront and cheerfully dug into his ration. It seemed unwise to press the issue, so Stephen let it slide. He could not suppress the heat in his cheeks though and shifted uncomfortably.
“Stephen,” Jack said after he had indulged half his Spotted Dog, “You haven’t told me if you like the box I got you. Is it useful at all?”
“Oh by all means, it is!” cried Stephen, surprised at Jack’s doubt, “It is such a precious thing, I hardly have the patience to wait until I can use it.”
Jack smiled and leaned back, pudding forgotten.
“All’s well then. I was afraid it was a mistake to have acquired it. You seemed reserved, to say at least.”
“Reserved? I could have kissed you on the spot!”
Jack’s smile vanished from his face only to be replaced with hearty laughter mere seconds later.
“I would have liked that, my dear doctor. To see you this excited.” He smirked, and sipped his wine, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “I would have liked that indeed.”
Stephen prayed that Jack did not think much of his unreasonable confession and may see it as another slip due to the wine.
He sat deep in thought, his lips pursed. Jack said nothing to disrupt him as was his custom. When Stephen looked up again, the candles had burned down a good inch and Jack smiled at him. Stephen downed what little was left in his glass, setting it with a clink back on the table, and slid back with his chair.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Jack asked immediately.
“I think I’ll better retire, Jack. Thank you for this enjoyable evening. It was a great relief to see you in such an agreeable mood.”
“Oh,” said Jack and looked a little dismayed, “Oh, well then. If you are tired. I can’t hold you, can I?” He gave a little laugh which sounded slightly weak to Stephen, especially after the mirth Jack had displayed shortly before.
“Just finish this pudding with me,” Jack said, “I had much trouble hiding it.” His face lit up when Stephen nodded, and although he had finished his share he picked up the fork and turned it, catching the candle light. There was a tender expression in Jack’s eyes, something soft and intimate, that made Stephen feel as if spying on his friend. Stephen liked to think the candid affection on Jack’s face was directed at him, and when Jack looked up to caught Stephen’s eyes there was a moment he could believe his assumption.
Stephen excused himself after he had finished his dessert. He went straight to bed, where he lay awake for a long time, listening to the ships dull sounds; the creaking of the wood surrounded him and the sloshing of the waves against the hull finally lulled him to sleep in the small hours of the morning.
Chapter Two, in which Stephen makes a rather strange confession, and Jack has Spotted Dog.
The stern cabin was lit by as many candles as Jack had holders for. The room was basked in a yellowish light that reflected golden in the discarded glasses on the table. Stephen looked around, surprised that only he and Jack were left of what had started as a merry circle. With all officers and midshipmen gone Stephen felt more at ease. Yet the quiet intimacy struck an unfamiliar chord in him, if not always then today.
“So, my dear doctor,” Jack said, “Can I persuade you to more wine?”
Stephen shook his head and held his hand over his glass when Jack reached for the decanter.
“I must decline, I’m afraid I already had more than my appropriate share.”
Jack smiled and filled his glass to the brim.
“Nonsense, doctor,” he then cried happily, “Let me refill your glass and make a toast.”
Stephen rolled his eyes but did not take his hand away.
“I haven’t seen you like this in a long time,” he said instead, “Whatever caused it, I’d be more than happy to see it happen again.” It couldn’t have been the wine, Stephen mused, for their last decanter was still half full, and it was only Jack’s third or fourth glass. They had shared wine before, and they had never stopped before having emptied at least three bottles. Which was the exact amount to leave Jack Aubrey flustered.
He let his index finger glide over his upper lip while he watched Jack take a careful sip. The captain was aglow tonight, being in an extraordinary good mood over the whole course of the diner, making more terrible puns than during all meals before. Stephen had accepted all jokes on his behalf with an indignant air and a hinted smile, too glad to retort. His cheeks sported a healthy tint of red from the attention bestowed on him, and he never had failed to stutter something close to a reply when the level of conversation seemed to drop below what he normally would abide.
His fingers were hiding his slow smile as he listened to Jack thinking aloud about where to go to port. He mentioned places all over the world, only pausing to see Stephen’s reaction.
“I was thinking South America,” Jack said and made a long pause.
“South America? That would be nice, to say at least. I’m certain the men would enjoy the chance to stretch their legs. They are always a little restless when the next port is too far away. And I could stock up on medical supplies. I’m in dear need of several things.” Even though he surpressed any excitement in his voice that could hint towards more personal motifs, Jack seemed to know where Stephen’s thoughts were.
“You could go on a plant hunt and search for lichens,” Jack offered nonchalantly, sipping at his wine and watching Stephen over the brim of his glass.
Stephen opened his mouth to reply but the door slammed open and Killick barged in.
“Your dessert,” Killick announced and slammed down two plates.
“Ah!” Jack cried, “Splendid, and just in time!” He waited until Killick had closed the door again, and then nudged one plate towards Stephen who looked flabbergasted.
“Don’t tell me you planned not to share this with everyone,” Stephen managed to gasp out.
“There weren’t enough currants to make a 6 pound one. And I haven’t had any pudding in years,” Jack said by way of apology. He smiled sheepishly before breaking into a big grin and crying: “My dear doctor, you should know me better than this. Those slices are leftovers! And since there wasn’t enough to share with all my men, I decided to share it with you.”
Stephen blushed and took a careful bite. He would have preferred to bite his tongue instead, but Jack seemed unimpressed by the affront and cheerfully dug into his ration. It seemed unwise to press the issue, so Stephen let it slide. He could not suppress the heat in his cheeks though and shifted uncomfortably.
“Stephen,” Jack said after he had indulged half his Spotted Dog, “You haven’t told me if you like the box I got you. Is it useful at all?”
“Oh by all means, it is!” cried Stephen, surprised at Jack’s doubt, “It is such a precious thing, I hardly have the patience to wait until I can use it.”
Jack smiled and leaned back, pudding forgotten.
“All’s well then. I was afraid it was a mistake to have acquired it. You seemed reserved, to say at least.”
“Reserved? I could have kissed you on the spot!”
Jack’s smile vanished from his face only to be replaced with hearty laughter mere seconds later.
“I would have liked that, my dear doctor. To see you this excited.” He smirked, and sipped his wine, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “I would have liked that indeed.”
Stephen prayed that Jack did not think much of his unreasonable confession and may see it as another slip due to the wine.
He sat deep in thought, his lips pursed. Jack said nothing to disrupt him as was his custom. When Stephen looked up again, the candles had burned down a good inch and Jack smiled at him. Stephen downed what little was left in his glass, setting it with a clink back on the table, and slid back with his chair.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Jack asked immediately.
“I think I’ll better retire, Jack. Thank you for this enjoyable evening. It was a great relief to see you in such an agreeable mood.”
“Oh,” said Jack and looked a little dismayed, “Oh, well then. If you are tired. I can’t hold you, can I?” He gave a little laugh which sounded slightly weak to Stephen, especially after the mirth Jack had displayed shortly before.
“Just finish this pudding with me,” Jack said, “I had much trouble hiding it.” His face lit up when Stephen nodded, and although he had finished his share he picked up the fork and turned it, catching the candle light. There was a tender expression in Jack’s eyes, something soft and intimate, that made Stephen feel as if spying on his friend. Stephen liked to think the candid affection on Jack’s face was directed at him, and when Jack looked up to caught Stephen’s eyes there was a moment he could believe his assumption.
Stephen excused himself after he had finished his dessert. He went straight to bed, where he lay awake for a long time, listening to the ships dull sounds; the creaking of the wood surrounded him and the sloshing of the waves against the hull finally lulled him to sleep in the small hours of the morning.
