A late fic for Dana's birthday

[auntiemeesh]

I couldn't sleep so I thought I might as well put my time to good use. danachan designated Aug 14 as Merry/Pippin day. Well, it's a bit past Aug 14, but here's my contribution. It's just a wee, G rated, slashyish tidbit, and completely unbetaed.

Brandy Hall, late summer 1410 S.R.

Merry lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling in frustration. It was no good, he'd never sleep like this. Throwing off the light blanket, he sat on the edge of the bed and turned up the wick in the bedside lamp. In the dim glow, he found his robe and pulled it on.

Leaving his room, he wandered almost by habit in the direction of the kitchen pantries, intent on a midnight raid. Maybe food would settle his thoughts and soothe the ache of emptiness and longing in his chest. Once he got to the kitchen, however, he realized that he had, for once, no interest in food. Making a cup of tea instead, he carried it to the small, private parlour that was set aside for his family's use.

The room was dark, everyone having gone to bed hours ago. He stirred up the fire and sat in a worn old armchair, feet propped on the edge of the hearthstones. It was ridiculous, he knew, moping and pining this way, but telling himself that didn't stop the missing, the feeling that all wasn't right in his world because of the missing.

It was strange, really. Just last year, Pippin had still been little more than a child; appealing, yes, but in the way a child is appealing. Something had changed this spring, however, and Merry no longer thought of Pippin as a child at all. He couldn't say whether it had been the inexpert flirting the lad had tried out on everyone under fifty this past visit, the newly sinuous way his body had moved when swimming and romping along the river, or the odd moments of thoughtfulness he'd caught Pippin in that had done it. Probably a combination of all those and more, accumulating without notice until some terminal point had been reached. Regardless, Merry had found himself unable to think of anything else for weeks now.

He found himself counting the days until his visit to Tuckborough, in just over a week, anticipating the trip with excitement and no small amount of dread. Excitement at the prospect of seeing Pippin again and dread because he'd come to a decision. He was going to tell Pippin how he felt.

Comments

[pipspebble.livejournal.com]

OH MY! Meeshie, this is *so* powerful! This especially:

He couldn't say whether it had been the inexpert flirting the lad had tried out on everyone under fifty this past visit, the newly sinuous way his body had moved when swimming and romping along the river, or the odd moments of thoughtfulness he'd caught Pippin in that had done it

is so wonderfully descriptive, saying so much, painting three different poses of Pippin in one sentence. Just lovely work, this! You continue to amaze me with the things you produce. :-)

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Maybe I should write random slash at two in the morning more often, lol.

So many people have written really wonderful fics about first times and the growing of awareness, but it's such a fascinating subject. How would you feel if you suddenly became aware that you were falling in love with someone that you'd previously just seen as a younger playmate or nuisance? Lovely idea to play around with. Too bad I really can't write real slash, cuz I can't really take this anywhere. lol.

[pipspebble.livejournal.com]

You're pretty much in the same boat I was in when I wrote the original Chocolate Pippin stories. I love what you've done here, though. The reader's imagination can take it whether he/she wants it to go. :-)

[slightlytookish]

Oooh...you need to write the next part!!! This is such a great start, and I love Merry here, but there has to be more of this! *pleads shamelessly for a continuation*

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I'm making no promises, here. I don't really write slash, other than a couple of little, very mild tidbits like this that I've written for Dana. I'll play around with it though, and see what I can come up with. :D

[slightlytookish]

I understand! I can't write slash at all, even of the mildest sort, so I give you lots of credit for writing this :)

[westwindschild.livejournal.com]

Kiddo, you have really learned how to craft lovely pictures with your words! A wonderfully written, poignant moment. That all-consuming period of a new love is a very fascinating subject, and you've handled it with real skill here.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thank you, dear. I figure if I have to be suffering through this sort of pang all night long, other people can suffer with me, right?

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

It's just the same ol' same ol'. You know of whom I speak. A certain pgh fcger. Who may or may not be going to Dragon*con with us, who is occupying my thoughts rather more than is convenient, currently. :)

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Btw, this post is locked against said fcgers, so we won't be mentioning this elsewhere. Okay?

[westwindschild.livejournal.com]

Awww, shucks, there you go, spoilin all my fun!
My word is my bond, sis - not a whisper shall be spread!

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sis. :D

[azur-infinie.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is gorgeous. You capture so much in so few words, and like the others I would *love* to see more of it! For someone who doesn't write slash, you have a lovely way of writing Merry/Pippin, and G-rated little moments like this are some of my most favourite kinds of moments, lol.

I'm so glad you wrote it! :D

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I would love to see more of this too, to be honest. I just need a ghost writer to write it for me, lol. I'm gonna work on it though, see what I can come up with. :D

Have you had a chance to work on your slashy fic yet, btw? I'm looking forward to seeing more of that. ;p

[azur-infinie.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it! :D

As for mine, I'm on it right now! I've even put the angsty music on. :D

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Excellent! We must all slash together, now. :D

[danachan.livejournal.com]

*delighted* Oh, this is lovely. the inexpert flirting the lad had tried out on everyone under fifty this past visit And I really just love that line. But then, I really just love Pippin, so I think it shows. Ah! Thank you for this, really.

And you should just go ahead and play around and see what else you can do with it, if you feel like it. I know it's only mildly slashy, but you could write more and it could stay the same... *grin* Ahhh. Thank you. *hugs*

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Who could resist Pippin? He's just too loveable! I'm so glad you liked this - I always get anxious when I try writing slash, cuz it's so outside my normal comfort zone. I'll have to see how this plays out and what happens next. :D