FIC: At Odds [Jeeves & Wooster]
Mar. 4th, 2006 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
darktrent182TITLE: At Odds
DISCLAIMER: Jeeves and Wooster don't belong to me -- they belong to P.G. Wodehouse. Written for entertainment purposes, no money made, please don't sue, yadda. The only character I own is Hannigan.
FANDOM: Jeeves & Wooster
WORD COUNT: 588
RATING: G
SUMMARY: A week later, it is imperative to find a distraction.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Follows Once More, With Feeling. Partially unbeta'd, so all the mistakes are my own doing. To be honest, I can't remember who read it over, but I'm sure one of them was![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rhapsody_iv. I grovel and apologize profusely.
CHRONOLOGY:
1. Untitled Bertie Piece
2. On Mister Wooster
3. The Trouble with the Truth
4. Standing Firm
5. Once More, With Feeling
6. This Entry
***
Desperate times call for desperate measures, it appears.
Mister Wooster's insistence upon certain... liberties after returning home the conquering hero of the darts tournament was not unexpected, but it served as a reminder that if I mean to divert my employer's attentions from myself, I must do it soon, or my self-control may not last.
In the days following the tournament, I have noticed Mister Wooster has been remarkably quiet, watching my movements when he thinks I am not paying attention. I am not sure what he sees when he watches me, but he never tires of it. When I first entered Mister Wooster's employ, he would watch me move about the flat with a sort of awed look, as though I were something more than a capable and efficient valet. Now, however, his mouth rests closed, his brows lower just a little, and his eyes seem wistfully hopeless as they mark my every movement.
In the early days of my attraction to Mister Wooster, I found subtle, if inappropriate, ways of expressing my desire, though I am inclined to believe they were lost on Mister Wooster. There was nothing indecent -- a valet is, if I might take the liberty, poised, ever vigilant, and above all, discreet.
However, a favorite indulgence of mine had been to hand him a cup of tea, and while doing so, allow our fingers to brush. To receive such a touch was a moment of intimacy to treasure. While my employer had not freely given these careless touches to me, he allowed them without comment, merely accepting the cup with a winsome smile and drink.
Now, that little intimacy is not solely mine anymore. The guilty pleasure of touching his hand or his arm becomes a moment of startlement for Mister Wooster, despite the number of times it has happened over the past week. When our fingers touch, his eyes snap up to meet mine, bewildered and worried. The ready comparison of Mister Wooster to a kicked puppy is not remiss in this instance, I fear.
I have not replied to his questioning look when such physical contact occurs because I am unsure how best to respond. Mister Wooster has behaved as a gentleman befitting his station, and these small touches that I've treasured for so long now seem to cause more doubt and anxiety in my employer than the genial bemusement of the days before he knew of my attraction to him. I have stated that becoming more intimate with each other is unwelcome, but habits deeply ingrained over the past year tell him otherwise, if I'm not mistaken.
This is not right, and moreover, it is not fair to him.
With each passing day, he grows quieter, and has even begun the habit of reclining on the sofa, staring at a candelabrum or even a corner of the coffee table, deep in thought. Telling from his frustrated expression, wherever his thoughts have taken him has proved less than pleasant.
Now is the time that a distraction is most needed. Mister Wooster tends to have difficulty focusing on more than the immediate crisis he has been asked to deal with or to help solve, and as such, he would find it difficult to concentrate on his feelings for me whilst attempting to aid one of his friends "out of the soup", as he likes to call it.
I too would be better served by a distraction, if only to remind myself that succumbing to my employer's charms would be disastrous beyond measure.
END
DISCLAIMER: Jeeves and Wooster don't belong to me -- they belong to P.G. Wodehouse. Written for entertainment purposes, no money made, please don't sue, yadda. The only character I own is Hannigan.
FANDOM: Jeeves & Wooster
WORD COUNT: 588
RATING: G
SUMMARY: A week later, it is imperative to find a distraction.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Follows Once More, With Feeling. Partially unbeta'd, so all the mistakes are my own doing. To be honest, I can't remember who read it over, but I'm sure one of them was
rhapsody_iv. I grovel and apologize profusely.CHRONOLOGY:
1. Untitled Bertie Piece
2. On Mister Wooster
3. The Trouble with the Truth
4. Standing Firm
5. Once More, With Feeling
6. This Entry
***
Desperate times call for desperate measures, it appears.
Mister Wooster's insistence upon certain... liberties after returning home the conquering hero of the darts tournament was not unexpected, but it served as a reminder that if I mean to divert my employer's attentions from myself, I must do it soon, or my self-control may not last.
In the days following the tournament, I have noticed Mister Wooster has been remarkably quiet, watching my movements when he thinks I am not paying attention. I am not sure what he sees when he watches me, but he never tires of it. When I first entered Mister Wooster's employ, he would watch me move about the flat with a sort of awed look, as though I were something more than a capable and efficient valet. Now, however, his mouth rests closed, his brows lower just a little, and his eyes seem wistfully hopeless as they mark my every movement.
In the early days of my attraction to Mister Wooster, I found subtle, if inappropriate, ways of expressing my desire, though I am inclined to believe they were lost on Mister Wooster. There was nothing indecent -- a valet is, if I might take the liberty, poised, ever vigilant, and above all, discreet.
However, a favorite indulgence of mine had been to hand him a cup of tea, and while doing so, allow our fingers to brush. To receive such a touch was a moment of intimacy to treasure. While my employer had not freely given these careless touches to me, he allowed them without comment, merely accepting the cup with a winsome smile and drink.
Now, that little intimacy is not solely mine anymore. The guilty pleasure of touching his hand or his arm becomes a moment of startlement for Mister Wooster, despite the number of times it has happened over the past week. When our fingers touch, his eyes snap up to meet mine, bewildered and worried. The ready comparison of Mister Wooster to a kicked puppy is not remiss in this instance, I fear.
I have not replied to his questioning look when such physical contact occurs because I am unsure how best to respond. Mister Wooster has behaved as a gentleman befitting his station, and these small touches that I've treasured for so long now seem to cause more doubt and anxiety in my employer than the genial bemusement of the days before he knew of my attraction to him. I have stated that becoming more intimate with each other is unwelcome, but habits deeply ingrained over the past year tell him otherwise, if I'm not mistaken.
This is not right, and moreover, it is not fair to him.
With each passing day, he grows quieter, and has even begun the habit of reclining on the sofa, staring at a candelabrum or even a corner of the coffee table, deep in thought. Telling from his frustrated expression, wherever his thoughts have taken him has proved less than pleasant.
Now is the time that a distraction is most needed. Mister Wooster tends to have difficulty focusing on more than the immediate crisis he has been asked to deal with or to help solve, and as such, he would find it difficult to concentrate on his feelings for me whilst attempting to aid one of his friends "out of the soup", as he likes to call it.
I too would be better served by a distraction, if only to remind myself that succumbing to my employer's charms would be disastrous beyond measure.
END
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 10:56 pm (UTC)I really like the way is denying himself the happiness of having Bertie because it wouldn't be 'proper' and the fear of ending up hurt. It feels like something he would worry about in such a situation.
It will be very interesting to see what kind of distraction will present itself, and whether or not Jeeves will be in any way responsible for it. ;)
Also, I'm a sucker for the comparison of Bertie - puppy.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:15 pm (UTC)Jeeves strikes me as the kind of guy who clings to propriety and duty like a security blanket. He knows that he's a cut above the rest of the valets, but instead of resting on his laurels, he keeps himself to a very high standard. He doesn't smile, his lip just twitches. He doesn't animate his face into a look of "Say what?", he raises an eyebrow a significant eighth of an inch. From the book, I gather that Jeeves is almost stone-like. Stephen Fry did his best in the series, but part of the comedy is that there's interaction between Jeeves and Wooster, and Jeeves has to be a little less superhuman in terms of facial expression in order for it to work, imho.
Bertie, otoh, is so expressive and unafraid to show himself and how he's feeling that he's the perfect foil for Jeeves. I really think that Jeeves would be attracted to that forthrightness, along with the good heart, and Hugh Laurie looking absolutely adorable and edible at the same time as Bertie.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:30 pm (UTC)*cough* I have no idea of what kind of discussion you might be referring to. Not at all. *shifty eyes*
Jeeves strikes me as the kind of guy who clings to propriety and duty like a security blanket.
That is very true. I like the notion (put forward in a fic a few days ago) that Jeeves is using his valet-status as a persona of sorts. I'm not going to such lengths as suggesting that he's a spy/super criminal or anything, but I do believe that Jeeves *must* be hiding something behind his rather stiff exterior. Not neccesarily something evil, just his humanity. That's what I like about Stephen's take on Jeeves (which I know was neccesary due to the lack of Bertie narrative); he comes across as human.
Bertie, otoh, is so expressive and unafraid to show himself and how he's feeling that he's the perfect foil for Jeeves. I really think that Jeeves would be attracted to that forthrightness, along with the good heart, and Hugh Laurie looking absolutely adorable and edible at the same time as Bertie.
Amen to that. Bertie needs Jeeves, that much is obvious, but Jeeves needs Bertie too. They balance eachother so well.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:40 pm (UTC)*patpat* No need to do all that. It's spawning a bunny, though I doubt that bunny will be part of this story arc, considering that this story arc is so nebulously placed in the grand scheme of things.
Not necessarily something evil, just his humanity
A very good point. I know I commented that I immediately thought of Stephen Fry as Sherlock Holmes or something, but yes. You have to wonder what happened to Jeeves that he's so rigid about his persona as Jeeves-the-valet.
They balance each other so well.
And yes, they *do* balance each other well. When Jeeves won't show emotion, Bertie will make up for it in spades.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:53 pm (UTC)Ohh, twagic past! ... Ok, not tragic, but interesting at the very least.
And yes, they *do* balance each other well. When Jeeves won't show emotion, Bertie will make up for it in spades.
Yeah, and when Bertie won't show any intelligence, Jeeves more than makes up for it.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:56 pm (UTC)Now, the conundrum is, who'd be better in bed, Bertie or Jeeves?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 12:10 am (UTC)What he might lack in technique, he would made up for in enthusiasm, playfulness and emotion.
But then again, I'm a Bertie-fangirl all the way. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 03:17 am (UTC)That's exactly what it's about--a manservant who takes his job so seriously he forgets to be human. It's a very sad book. I recommend highly.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 07:31 am (UTC)Hey, wasn't it made into a movie with Emma Thompson some years ago?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 07:48 pm (UTC)*drumroll*
HANNIBAL!!!!!
Allright, it was Anthony Hopkins, the same actor who played Hannibal, but that's who I think of every time I see him. It totally ruined the movie for me. I expected him to start eating brains at any minute.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:04 pm (UTC)Can't wait to find out what happens in the end! I feel sorry for both of them now. Poor Bertie worrying his arse off about what to do, poor Jeeves worrying his off about whether he's behaving in a right and proper way. It's a vicious circle, really. Something's bound to happen in the end.
I think I may have to friend your fic journal at least.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:39 pm (UTC)Oh, Lordy... I just imagined plastic Bertie figures being sold in bulk...
"Get your Wooster here! Now with new improved Piano-Ability(tm)!"
(I read some of your George/Melchett, by the way. Very good. It's a fandom I happen to like. I mean, it's practically canon.)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:47 pm (UTC)And yes, it is so damn near canon, it's almost not funny. My sister, who doesn't read slash, is like, "Dude, so canon." about George/Melchett.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:09 pm (UTC)And when it has all been chipped away, crazy valet-sex will ensue.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 11:16 pm (UTC)At some point, something's got to give. I'm still trying to figure out what's going to happen, but rest assured, something has to give. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 03:18 am (UTC)Look, you are turning your reviewers into frustrated puddles of goo. This is not good if you want more reviews.
Bertie=puppy=love, and I can perfectly picture said expression.
Some Piano!Bertie or Piano!Jeeves and a swordfish and I will nominate you to sainthood. ;)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 06:45 am (UTC)Oooh, piano!J&W... Hmmm. How do ya know I haven't thought of that already?
;)
*contemplates a swordfish*
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 09:48 am (UTC)I'm sure I'm just repeating other people, but your characterisation is spot-on. I love the way that both of them are reacting to the situation in their different ways without really understanding what the other is feeling.
More. More is good. *pokes with sticks* =D
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 05:35 pm (UTC)Glad you enj--EEP!
*rubs her rump gently and glares at the sneaky stick that poked her*
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 03:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 05:36 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 04:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-05 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-02 06:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-02 04:12 pm (UTC)OMG, NEW PERSON!
*waves hello*
Hi!
Wooow, it's so amazing to get feedback even after the fic's been up for ages. Yeah, I'm hoping to continue it, though I have to admit that Doctor Who is really horning in on my attention.
As for friending me, um, sure! I don't tend to pimp my fic journal at my personal journal, so if you're really just interested in the fic, you can friend this one, and I'm not going to be hurt that you don't want details about my life.
Still... wow! New person!
no subject
Date: 2006-07-02 05:54 pm (UTC)Anyway, now that House is in summer hiatus, I was going into Hugh Laurie deprivation, and I noticed that lots of the House fans & authors whom I respect are also into Jeeves & Wooster so I decided to give that a try. Long and short of it is that I'm totally hooked. Unfortunately, I read way too fast, so I think I've already read almost all the J&W fanfic that's out there. I must have more! So now I'm trying to feed your plotbunny (plothamster?).
It's been ages since I've done any creative writing, but I'm also considering trying to write in this fandom. It's a bit intimidating because while this fandom doesn't have a ton of fic, what is out there is all of amazingly good quality.
Anyway, sorry for the rambling comment. I do tend to blather on...
no subject
Date: 2006-07-02 07:52 pm (UTC)You most likely have. I'm on
Finally got a livejournal so I could participate in some of the discussions myself. Thanks for friending me back! While I'm very interested in your fic, I'm also interested in getting to know the people around my fandoms as well, so that's why I friended both of your journals. Hope that's ok.
*nodnod* I understand. I've done that a few times myself, where I liked the fic, and then the person said very cool stuff, and I ended up friending their personal journal as well. I don't mind. I'm actually kinda flattered. Heh. *^^*
Anyway, now that House is in summer hiatus, I was going into Hugh Laurie deprivation, and I noticed that lots of the House fans & authors whom I respect are also into Jeeves & Wooster so I decided to give that a try.
Yeah, I was in much the same boat when I started wandering through other fandoms that Hugh Laurie's been a part of. The stuff for Blackadder (the third or fourth series) is sadly even rarer than the stuff for J&W, but following Hugh Laurie around is rather fun. :D
Long and short of it is that I'm totally hooked. Unfortunately, I read way too fast, so I think I've already read almost all the J&W fanfic that's out there. I must have more! So now I'm trying to feed your plotbunny (plothamster?).
Heh, again, thanks for the compliment. ;) As for trying to feed my plotbunnies, you'd most likely have a better time of it by catching on either AIM or YIM (I'm mostly invisible, but if we add each other, I can IM you). It's a bad habit that I've gotten into, and to be honest, I can travel quickly through fandoms, leaving lots of unfinished projects in my wake. Still, I can try my best to get back into Jooster. :D
It's been ages since I've done any creative writing, but I'm also considering trying to write in this fandom. It's a bit intimidating because while this fandom doesn't have a ton of fic, what is out there is all of amazingly good quality.
Well, from what I've seen of the Jooster writers and fans, especially at
And yes, there's fics out there in Jooster that are rather good. :D
Anyway, sorry for the rambling comment. I do tend to blather on...
Don't worry about it. I rather like talking to people anyways, and if nothing else, replying to this comment gives me something to do while I'm at work. ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-01-22 10:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-22 11:15 am (UTC)A new person? Dude, hi!
Um, no, there hasn't been more -- I need to get back into Jooster again, and see if my brain can't kickstart something. Sorry to leave you hanging like this!
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-07 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-07 04:20 am (UTC)I'm sorry to leave you hanging like this -- I've had a block with this series for a while, and I'm just kind of hoping I'll break out of it soon.
--- *train derails*
Wait, you found this off a rec-list?
*stares wide-eyed at you as though you were the Holy Grail*
Really? You're not, y'know, just trying to be nice to me?
Where is it?
no subject
Date: 2007-05-02 06:29 am (UTC)Reason being, of course, that you write this enormously believable fic saga and get to just before the good part before you stop.
Also, my pain at the lack of any more of this fic is added to by the fact that the first time I read it, I glanced at the date of posting and thought you'd posted within the last month or so, and so I was quite hopeful that there would soon be more.
Upon closer inspection I realized I'd forgotten to check the *year*
It's recced on INDEED, SIR, in regards to your subscript question a comment above, but I think you knew that, since you appear to be a member.
And so, ahem: more, please?
no subject
Date: 2007-05-02 07:11 am (UTC)*scrolls down to the top of the post, is surprised to find it for a Jooster story, instead of her new SGA one*
*reads comment like a wide-eyed hamster*
*hurts herself trying not to laugh*
I have a slight suspicion that you might possibly be evil.
My muse is quite frequently evil, but I think I've just sort of come to accept it?
Reason being, of course, that you write this enormously believable fic saga and get to just before the good part before you stop.
Ah, yes, my muse kicking in again. I too feel rather proud over the believability of the arc -- I kept finding yet another Jeeves/Wooster story where they happily hopped into bed after realizing their love for each other. Hey, I love happy endings best of all, but if Jeeves is too intelligent to blindly throw caution to the wind, I just can't see him going through with it, and then he and Bertie getting into serious trouble that he might be able to get them out of later on.
So, yes, my story arc was in response to that, but at the same time, I ended up painting myself in a corner. It would take a much longer Wodehouse-esque fic in order to combat Jeeves' reservations, and get Bertie to somehow convince him to make a leap of faith on the Wooster person, as it were. Since the idea of such an involved story (because wow, Wodehouse was convoluted!) actually kind of scared me, I've been stalled ever since.
Also, my pain at the lack of any more of this fic is added to by the fact that the first time I read it, I glanced at the date of posting and thought you'd posted within the last month or so, and so I was quite hopeful that there would soon be more.
Upon closer inspection I realized I'd forgotten to check the *year*
*bites lip hard* I've done that a number of times myself, to be honest. Part 2 of an arc is so awesome, and God, I want more, and there was never more than Part 2 in 2005! DAMMIT!
So, yes, I feel your pain. I'm sorry! Did you find any other fics that tickled your fancy? I'm always curious.
It's recced on INDEED, SIR, in regards to your subscript question a comment above, but I think you knew that, since you appear to be a member.
*hard blink* It actually got recced there? Or did you just find my story notices in the archive? It's a very rare thing that something of mine actually gets recced that I always sort of stare at the post in wonder and amazement at such posts.
And so, ahem: more, please?
About the best way to really get me back into Jooster is for me to borrow more audiobooks and such from the library, or read the books again (and I can never remember which stories are in which collection, or their timeline), and then submerge into the fandom again. Considering I just managed to finish a 14,000+ word story in the SGA fandom, I'm still stuck in that headspace as it were, trying to think of a sequel for the first story.
I hope to get back to it soon, though. I'm always rather touched and amazed when new people find this older stuff after so long that I end up getting nostalgic, which helps to get back into the headspace. *^^*
no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 05:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 05:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 05:24 am (UTC)Either way, thank you for commenting that you liked the series thus far. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-01-18 09:03 am (UTC)I am sad to see that you have stalled on this series as it is wonderful and sad, certainly unusual for a Jeeves and Wooster fic. Still, the series is very enjoyable as is and I'm happy I stumbled across the link to it.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-23 09:55 am (UTC)I love the sense of shared melancholy in this. The static, tense sense of things unsaid. It's a feeling that you manage to convey quite marvelously in a number of your pieces.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-05 05:19 am (UTC)And no, I haven't continued the series because I hit a speedbump. Had I continued and finished the series, it would be posted here at
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 08:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 01:45 pm (UTC)It's always a pleasant surprise to find someone either discovering the series, or rediscovering it, and they care enough to leave a comment. Even better if it's something they liked about the series. :D
And yes, the fandom trope of "I love you!" "I love you!" "Let's have sex!" does get kind of old, and with some characters, it's not exactly in-character. Jeeves in particular has been exceedingly annoying about the feudal spirit, and I've only really managed to make him bend once for a Yuletide story. Here's the link if you're interested.
And yes, I do know about the parenthetical comment. A beta-reader had accidentally made it, and I didn't realize it was in there until someone pointed it out in the comments for the fic itself. *sigh* As soon as I have a moment, and I remember, I'll make sure to ask the archivists to repost it without the comment.