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switchknife wanted to see, er, the details. So I updated 'Here Again' (must think of a snappier title - 'Lobster Claws & Puppy Dog Tales'? Just 'Puppy Dog Tales'?).
Yes, I'm still squicked. Though it's surprising how few people are squicked by this story.
Here Again
by Icarus
He had soft luminous skin, and he shouldn't be so confident as he stepped across the room, naked, to pull open the hotel drapes. That quiet smile over his shoulder.
Slats of brilliant light flooded the room, catching dust motes helplessly.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Percy said with gentle irony. And fondness.
How many times had Arthur said that -- how many mornings? Percy seemed a little amused, and it struck Arthur as odd to find himself scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hands like a small child, tangled and tumbled in sheets that smelled, well. Like something much less innocent.
Arthur blinked, bewildered to find himself here, though he recalled very clearly every step that lead to this point. The talk after hours at the Ministry when most of the offices were dark. The strange comfort of sharing a moment with his estranged son. 'Stay a little,' he'd asked, pleading slightly, to show Percy his latest Muggle artefact though he knew Percy always forced that polite look of interest. A tentative pat on his son's shoulder, 'are we all right?' His pang of fear when Percy shied away. Oh no… he had ruined it, he could never… should never have… he thought it had come to the end, the final disaster he had always feared. Though it was not - not proper; they both agreed on that.
Then there was Percy's pained apologetic look and offer of dinner, as recompense. A wash of relief.
Who could refuse? When saying no could cut them off for good?
Their carefree laughter late into the night at the restaurant.
'You're such - such a Muggle sometimes,' Percy had sputtered in his drink, his face pink.
Scootching his chair closer to explain the ingenuity Percy clearly could not grasp, that in the face of magic-deprivation Muggles had replaced nearly all the standard wizarding spells, with almost no contact with magic. Percy's standard staunch argument that Muggle-born wizards and squibs were likely responsible. Then why did most of it occur after contact was cut? Arthur had countered.
The sense-jangle of knee on knee. Percy's sudden tight shoulders and warning look, unheeded; there were more important matters at hand. Brilliant, Percy was brilliant, but so stubborn and - and, well, pedestrian! How could he not make this simple leap of logic? Sometimes it seemed that if he could convince Percy he could convince the whole world.
You should have been a Muggle scientifical, Percy had laughed, though he wasn't joking. His eyes were shining. Percy hadn't pulled away, and they really shouldn't… but Arthur knew that flush.
Not here. He vaguely remembered saying that. And yes, it would look rather odd, now wouldn't it? Though in that moment the rest of the world had seemed crazy, their agreement ridiculous. It had been so hard not to kiss in the restaurant.
They'd quibbled over the tip as they pulled on their jackets and knew that the mumbled 'it's late' meant something other than 'let's go home.'
It was a bit fuzzy actually, though he hadn't had much to drink; neither of them had. He wasn't sure if it was better not having an excuse.
They were freer in the stairs of the hotel, touching. Which probably wasn't such a good idea in retrospect. He'd told Percy, You're beautiful… shocked that it was true, and Percy had practically danced. Did they not praise him enough as a child, Arthur wondered? These worries had been brushed aside as the hotel room door bumped open.
They'd hesitated in the same moment, and then laughed. It would be a shame to waste…he began, stammered excuses, but Percy simply pounced on the bed, bouncing like he wasn't ever allowed to do at home, falling onto his back as he pulled off his trousers. And Arthur was fervently, foolishly glad he was there.
It was impossible to regret the rest, though really, he tried, blinking away the memories of Percy's thighs to either side of him, the soft wet sounds as he nuzzled and Percy sighed, gazing up at the ceiling. One thigh falling open. He wasn't so small now. The shift of shadows, kiss of sheets in the near dark as Percy turned around and made it mutual, such happy little sounds. Some of which were his own. They rose up and kissed in the middle of the bed, tasting each other as Percy climbed on top. He wanted to try it that way. All right. It was good for him to experiment.
What was once more in the greater scheme of things? Even if it somehow seemed a bit sordid, less right, in the morning, with the sun glowing in Percy's hair as he dressed. Now why did he put his socks on first?
Arthur wasn't the type who did this sort of thing. At least, he didn't think that he was, though he was at a loss as to why it kept… happening. But Percy would never stay with a monster. Arthur looked down at his hands, which looked the same as ever -- no lobster claws or frightful diseases. Well, he'd muddle through this one somehow. It was quite a pickle though, there was no denying it.
"Are we going to talk this time?" Percy asked, setting his polished shoes in front of himself. Without looking up. His son's -- no, he didn't want to think that now -- Percy's clothes were somehow more or less neatly draped on one chair. Hardly wrinkled at all. Arthur marveled at him, how the devil did he manage that? He wouldn't look as if he'd spent the night in a hotel; he never did. Arthur's were in a heap on the floor. Molly would kill him for the mess. But Percy had pointed out once that he always looked like 'a rumpled puppy,' so it hardly mattered now did it? A rumpled puppy... Arthur chuckled, forgetful of Percy's question.
Arthur blinked at Percy, realising now he was hurriedly getting dressed. Was something the matter? "You're not taking a shower."
Percy shook his head as he buttoned a cuff. "I've an eight o'clock. I forgot to ask for the wake-up chime."
"You forgot the chime?" Arthur relaxed, feeling rather smug now as he stretched. "Percy Weasley, the Future Minister of Magic --"
"Dad…" he whined.
"-- forgot?" Arthur was delighted.
Percy shot him a bemused look as he yanked up a sock. "You have the very same meeting."
"At eight o'clock? I don't recall that I --" he inhaled sharply, eyes wide, "-- it's Tuesday." He sat up and threw the covers off. "Good heavens, I totally forgot!"
He snatched up his shirt from the floor, threw on his vest -- really, Percy had nothing on him when it came to getting dressed quickly -- and sure enough, Percy was still tying his shoelaces by the time Arthur rushed out the door. His son followed, hard on his heels, and they trundled down the worn burgundy of the hotel stairs like a small stampede. Arthur returned the hotel key, while Percy rented a 'Ministry-Direct!' Portkey.
In the hotel lobby, they grabbed the Portkey together. In that breathless moment before it took hold, gazing at the clear eyes of his son, Arthur realised they hadn't had time yet to address their… larger issues.
Ah well. At the very least they had the immediate future well in hand. For one thing, they certainly had an air-tight alibi.
Finish
switchknife wanted to see, er, the details. So I updated 'Here Again' (must think of a snappier title - 'Lobster Claws & Puppy Dog Tales'? Just 'Puppy Dog Tales'?).Yes, I'm still squicked. Though it's surprising how few people are squicked by this story.
Here Again
by Icarus
He had soft luminous skin, and he shouldn't be so confident as he stepped across the room, naked, to pull open the hotel drapes. That quiet smile over his shoulder.
Slats of brilliant light flooded the room, catching dust motes helplessly.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Percy said with gentle irony. And fondness.
How many times had Arthur said that -- how many mornings? Percy seemed a little amused, and it struck Arthur as odd to find himself scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hands like a small child, tangled and tumbled in sheets that smelled, well. Like something much less innocent.
Arthur blinked, bewildered to find himself here, though he recalled very clearly every step that lead to this point. The talk after hours at the Ministry when most of the offices were dark. The strange comfort of sharing a moment with his estranged son. 'Stay a little,' he'd asked, pleading slightly, to show Percy his latest Muggle artefact though he knew Percy always forced that polite look of interest. A tentative pat on his son's shoulder, 'are we all right?' His pang of fear when Percy shied away. Oh no… he had ruined it, he could never… should never have… he thought it had come to the end, the final disaster he had always feared. Though it was not - not proper; they both agreed on that.
Then there was Percy's pained apologetic look and offer of dinner, as recompense. A wash of relief.
Who could refuse? When saying no could cut them off for good?
Their carefree laughter late into the night at the restaurant.
'You're such - such a Muggle sometimes,' Percy had sputtered in his drink, his face pink.
Scootching his chair closer to explain the ingenuity Percy clearly could not grasp, that in the face of magic-deprivation Muggles had replaced nearly all the standard wizarding spells, with almost no contact with magic. Percy's standard staunch argument that Muggle-born wizards and squibs were likely responsible. Then why did most of it occur after contact was cut? Arthur had countered.
The sense-jangle of knee on knee. Percy's sudden tight shoulders and warning look, unheeded; there were more important matters at hand. Brilliant, Percy was brilliant, but so stubborn and - and, well, pedestrian! How could he not make this simple leap of logic? Sometimes it seemed that if he could convince Percy he could convince the whole world.
You should have been a Muggle scientifical, Percy had laughed, though he wasn't joking. His eyes were shining. Percy hadn't pulled away, and they really shouldn't… but Arthur knew that flush.
Not here. He vaguely remembered saying that. And yes, it would look rather odd, now wouldn't it? Though in that moment the rest of the world had seemed crazy, their agreement ridiculous. It had been so hard not to kiss in the restaurant.
They'd quibbled over the tip as they pulled on their jackets and knew that the mumbled 'it's late' meant something other than 'let's go home.'
It was a bit fuzzy actually, though he hadn't had much to drink; neither of them had. He wasn't sure if it was better not having an excuse.
They were freer in the stairs of the hotel, touching. Which probably wasn't such a good idea in retrospect. He'd told Percy, You're beautiful… shocked that it was true, and Percy had practically danced. Did they not praise him enough as a child, Arthur wondered? These worries had been brushed aside as the hotel room door bumped open.
They'd hesitated in the same moment, and then laughed. It would be a shame to waste…he began, stammered excuses, but Percy simply pounced on the bed, bouncing like he wasn't ever allowed to do at home, falling onto his back as he pulled off his trousers. And Arthur was fervently, foolishly glad he was there.
It was impossible to regret the rest, though really, he tried, blinking away the memories of Percy's thighs to either side of him, the soft wet sounds as he nuzzled and Percy sighed, gazing up at the ceiling. One thigh falling open. He wasn't so small now. The shift of shadows, kiss of sheets in the near dark as Percy turned around and made it mutual, such happy little sounds. Some of which were his own. They rose up and kissed in the middle of the bed, tasting each other as Percy climbed on top. He wanted to try it that way. All right. It was good for him to experiment.
What was once more in the greater scheme of things? Even if it somehow seemed a bit sordid, less right, in the morning, with the sun glowing in Percy's hair as he dressed. Now why did he put his socks on first?
Arthur wasn't the type who did this sort of thing. At least, he didn't think that he was, though he was at a loss as to why it kept… happening. But Percy would never stay with a monster. Arthur looked down at his hands, which looked the same as ever -- no lobster claws or frightful diseases. Well, he'd muddle through this one somehow. It was quite a pickle though, there was no denying it.
"Are we going to talk this time?" Percy asked, setting his polished shoes in front of himself. Without looking up. His son's -- no, he didn't want to think that now -- Percy's clothes were somehow more or less neatly draped on one chair. Hardly wrinkled at all. Arthur marveled at him, how the devil did he manage that? He wouldn't look as if he'd spent the night in a hotel; he never did. Arthur's were in a heap on the floor. Molly would kill him for the mess. But Percy had pointed out once that he always looked like 'a rumpled puppy,' so it hardly mattered now did it? A rumpled puppy... Arthur chuckled, forgetful of Percy's question.
Arthur blinked at Percy, realising now he was hurriedly getting dressed. Was something the matter? "You're not taking a shower."
Percy shook his head as he buttoned a cuff. "I've an eight o'clock. I forgot to ask for the wake-up chime."
"You forgot the chime?" Arthur relaxed, feeling rather smug now as he stretched. "Percy Weasley, the Future Minister of Magic --"
"Dad…" he whined.
"-- forgot?" Arthur was delighted.
Percy shot him a bemused look as he yanked up a sock. "You have the very same meeting."
"At eight o'clock? I don't recall that I --" he inhaled sharply, eyes wide, "-- it's Tuesday." He sat up and threw the covers off. "Good heavens, I totally forgot!"
He snatched up his shirt from the floor, threw on his vest -- really, Percy had nothing on him when it came to getting dressed quickly -- and sure enough, Percy was still tying his shoelaces by the time Arthur rushed out the door. His son followed, hard on his heels, and they trundled down the worn burgundy of the hotel stairs like a small stampede. Arthur returned the hotel key, while Percy rented a 'Ministry-Direct!' Portkey.
In the hotel lobby, they grabbed the Portkey together. In that breathless moment before it took hold, gazing at the clear eyes of his son, Arthur realised they hadn't had time yet to address their… larger issues.
Ah well. At the very least they had the immediate future well in hand. For one thing, they certainly had an air-tight alibi.
Finish
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 11:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 11:59 am (UTC)I posted this yesterday, a version without the details of their night together. I'm not sure if I like this version or the other better. I like the slow sensuality of this, but I think Arthur's befuddlement and the emotional cross-currents come across better in the original, if only because the sex is distracting. That's probably why I left it out when I usually don't shy off explicit sex (not by a long shot).
On the other hand, this answers a lot of the questions people had, and gives a more complete picture of what's happening between the two of them. And it's steamier, that's a fact.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 12:18 pm (UTC)I like this version of the fic. I agree with your points about Arthur, but this one is less vague, bold without being too strong. The focus may not be on his 'befuddlement', but more on their relationship and its existence. And steamy, yes.
I didn't mention it before, but I especially love where Arthur is thinking about whether Percy was loved enough as a child.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 12:46 pm (UTC)Both of those icons are hysterical.
I especially love where Arthur is thinking about whether Percy was loved enough as a child.
Even though they're in this relationship, Arthur still thinks like a parent. (It pops up again with "it's good for him to experiment" - which is a very strange sentiment.) It tells a bit about how Percy seeks/needs approval, too, and how that drives the relationship from Percy's side.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 01:36 pm (UTC)In fact, I'd still like to beg you for more Percy/Arthur, because that pairing is such a bone-deep itch of mine that the mere mention of it sends my pulse buzzing.
However, I am still in awe of this ficlet and will be ravishing it regularly over the next 24 hours. Once I have recovered from my afterglow, I shall attempt demanding yet more fic from you.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 01:51 pm (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 01:15 pm (UTC)Oh. Oh yes. How you undo me with these little sentences. The image of it, so clear and completely... oh God. Beautiful. I can see it, you know, Percy's pale thigh. And I can feel... yes. What Arthur. Yes.
Um.
Excuse me. I'll be back in a few minutes.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 01:32 pm (UTC)I'm sorry for spinning out of control like this. But you have NO IDEA how close to my heart this pairing is, so close that I can't even tell if it's a kink of mine or simply a pairing whose dynamic appeals to me. But either way, this lovely, sensual, steamy interlude you've inserted had me sighing and nearly looking away to catch my breath at times, particularly when Arthur thought something father-like, such as 'Did they not praise him enough as a child...' and 'bouncing like he wasn't ever allowed to do at home' and 'He wasn't so small now' (oh! a past that needs to be written!) and 'It was good for him to experiment'.
Good for him to experiment? My God, Arthur!
*tries to cover up delight with shock*
I just... I can't. Say how much I love this. I've been yearning and thirsting for this since the day I was born, feels like. No, I'm not kidding. I might have to write my own story too, because you've rekindled my hunger.
I love the thought of Arthur and Percy as lovers, even if they aren't father and son--just two bespectacled Ministry officials, one who is overtly fond of Muggles and is the very epitome of the absent-minded family-man, and the other who thinks so much more like a Pureblood wizard and has a strange combination of subversion and a deep observation of rules in him--but the father and son element adds so much to it, an added layer of something between intimacy and tenderness and perversion, and it just... Oh. Feeds my kinks. Like. You wouldn't. Believe.
My favorite moments are indeed the ones in which Arthur goes all paternal in the middle of a sexual situation, because that's when the lines between father and lover blur, and I find it so unsettling. (I was nearly CHEWING my knuckles to bits with delight, you do realize that?)
... I am a very, very strange person. It is good that no one knows who this personality fragment known as 'switchknife' belongs to.
I love, love, LOVE this piece. (And will be reccing it now that it's in its final version. *sighs happily!*)
However, I see your point about the earlier ficlet being truer to Arthur's morning state of mind and to his confusion--I found myself missing that in this story, even though
MY GOD I NEEDED THE SEXI still enjoyed it. I'm torn here, really--my ideal solution would be to have two different ficlets, one focusing on the night, and one on the morning--a two-part, linked series, if you will--but I am not averse to this if that's how you want it, because DAMN, woman, I'm saving this on my computer for many an evening's worth of reading. I love the gentleness of this, the sweet subversion of it. It has some of the bashfulness of a fade-to-black scenario, but is bold in a strangely Arthur-ish way--that is to say, shy and yet desirous. Oh. Lovely.... I need to read this again now. Um. See you 'round.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 01:40 pm (UTC)Excuse me a minute while I... wow.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 02:13 pm (UTC)Good for him to experiment? My</> God, Arthur!
I know! Isn't that... appalling's not the word, it's just - there's so much denial/fatherlylove/justification/lust/blindness/caring/fondness in that, yet it's such an unequal, inappropriate statement for any relationship, like he's introducing Percy to sex as some sort of, what, Lesson? But how could what he thinks be more inappropriate than what he's actually doing? In a way it is, though. My buddy Eddie back in Detroit-city would, "this is messed Up, man."
My favorite moments are indeed the ones in which Arthur goes all paternal in the middle of a sexual situation, because that's when the lines between father and lover blur, and I find it so unsettling.
Yeah, that's where the relationship was really described, that he was still his father even though all the lines were blurred. That their sex-life wasn't a creepy non-con, it was consensual and even loving. They both enjoyed it, but -- man.
My God, Arthur!
I think that's what Molly would say.
However, I see your point about the earlier ficlet being truer to Arthur's morning state of mind and to his confusion--I found myself missing that in this story, even though MY GOD I NEEDED THE SEX I still enjoyed it. I'm torn here, really--my ideal solution would be to have two different ficlets, one focusing on the night, and one on the morning--a two-part, linked series, if you will...
I tried to write two stories, one from where this all started and this one, but everything rushed to the middle, this story (if that makes any sense...). It's like this story is the center of gravity, and it all wants to be compacted here.
I think both versions have something to offer. But I think I'll post this one
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 02:30 pm (UTC)YES PUBLISH THIS VERSION OF THE STORY YES PLEASE PLEASE. On your site too, and don't you forget it. Or I, in my undying love, will come after you with a pick-axe. *smiles sweetly*
... Right, what was I--yes. I have to say so much, but I'm short of time (work soon, and I'm as pathologically punctual as Percy is--hah!) so suffice to say that Arthur/Percy has infected my brain and that I'll be writing a ficlet for you later on today, which should be ready by tomorrow. Mmmm, Percy.
*ogles Percy's thighs*
*arrives at work with an alarmingly glazed expression*
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 02:49 pm (UTC)I just updated my website last night, messed it up again, too -- sigh. And I'm still missing all the recent drabbles. But I don't know much HTML and it takes 20 minutes to upload on Trellix because that one page is overloaded. I'll update again this weekend, adding the Percy/Dumbledore drabble, the Percy/Luna... (I'm not into Percy or anything, eh?)
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 03:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 03:58 pm (UTC)Icarus
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 08:09 pm (UTC)the only things i think that could possibly squick me are ships with dumbledore or mcgonagall, and this one fic that was harry and dudley, and they had sex over food.... that was like staring at a car accident...so horrible, but i couldn't tear myself away... but it did squick me...