Traders Fic
Mar. 18th, 2006 03:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luciazephyrI fuckin' hate drabbles. Sometimes, you look them over and squee at your work. Others, they are horrendous and you want to gorge your eyes out after reading. I've got both here.
Title: Domesticity
Author: Lucia Zephyr
Rating: PG
Warnings: Drabbles, un-beta'ed.
Summary: Looks into Donald and Grant’s lives after the caffeine scare. Twelve quick drabbles with a vague plot. Co-stars Jack. Enjoy the sap.
------------------------------------------------------
Usually, Donald couldn’t get Grant to be quiet for more than ten seconds. As much as the man insisted on being cut off from people (and light and sound and non-sugary foods), he always seemed thrilled to have visitors. He’d jabber on about nothing and everything and give a heart-rending hurt expression when his company was leaving.
Now Donald had a silent roommate who walked around as if on nails and gave Donald a five-foot berth at all times, looking even more awkward about this arrangement than the Magda Fiasco.
It wasn’t what Donald expected when he made the offer.
---
It used to be a standard guest room- furniture that was very plain, halfway comfortable bed, empty closet, and a desk that used to be in the den, but now was set aside when better equipment came along. Very unpersonalized.
When Donald forgot an file at home, he returned to fetch it. The guestroom’s door was ajar and he spared the moment to look in. Grant was still quiet, making it hard to get a gauge on how he was, so maybe the room would have a hint.
If the new electronic assembly was a sign, things were going fine.
---
It took two weeks for Grant to emerge at breakfast in the morning. It turned out he was a morning person.
The fact that Donald wasn’t lead to this.
“Grant, I wasn’t angry with you, I just hadn’t had my coffee yet.” Donald leaned back to look at Grant.
“You had a knife!” Grant accused, rattling the vent’s grating.
“A butterknife. I was making toast. You have to come down. Jack’ll drag you out if need be.”
“I have the computer on auto-pilot. I- I can stay here forever!”
Donald wondered how he was going to explain this to everyone.
---
When he got in, he dropped his briefcase loudly on the floor and tossed his keys on the kitchen island.
“I thought you- you’re going out for drinks.” Grant’s voice came, making Donald start. “Did something happen?”
Donald’s ears burned, not willing to mention how some interns had gotten to trading jokes about G&R employees and eventually laughing about ‘Larken’s pet, Jansky’, mocking Grant’s movements and surprised stutter he spoke with so often. Not mentioning how Jack- Jack, of all people- had to talk Donald down from telling the younger men off.
So Donald smiled, false and tight. “Too noisy.”
---
It took getting used to, not being alone. Sure, he had visitors sometimes, but none had fallen into a routine for making dinner with him.
“Mushrooms?”
“Leave them whole.” Donald said absently, measuring out the milk.
“Cookbook says to dice them.” The knife in Grant’s hand hovered of the vegtables in question.
“They taste better whole.”
“It doesn’t say that.”
Donald, with one fluid motion, snapped the book shut and tossed it on the other counter. “Experience beats out education.”
Grant nodded like this was an invaluable gem of wisdom and Donald focused on the gravy, hiding a pleased smile.
---
Since Donald gained a accomplished geek for a roommate, his media library had doubled, possibly tripled.
“What about Close Encounters?”
“Ah, I don’t think so.”
“Here’s The Day the Earth Stood Still.”
“Less camp, more color, maybe?”
“2001: A Space Odyssey?”
“I think I’m seeing a pattern here, Grant.”
“Hey, Dr. Strangelove!”
“No end of the world films until the weekend.” They made Donald a bit fatalistic the next day.
“Python?”
“Um, as in B-movie or Monty?”
“The-the coconuts and Black Knight.”
That was the best compromise he’d get with Grant on film. “Put it in and grab the popcorn.”
---
Sometimes they were quiet, without awkwardness, the discreet coughing, one party looking at the other fleetingly. None of that, just quiet. Donald’d work on whatever mission the brass needed. Grant would sketching something on printer paper. It was comfortable, something truly novel in Donald’s world.
Donald D’Arby wasn’t a comfortable guy, in any sense of the word. The sudden realization that he was relaxed damaged that calm state of mind. Grant’s eyes flitted up, and the sea-blue caught his own brown.
‘As different as earth and sea’ popped into his head. He took a breath, enjoyed the silence for once.
---
"I spoke to the doctor today." Jack said without prompt as they sat in his office, planning an offer.
"Grant's doctor?" Donald responded, not really paying attention.
"Yeah. It's been a little over a month of," Jack grinned, "enforced choco-ffeine detox. It'd be safe for him to go home now."
The word 'home' made Donald start. His apartment was home- or had been since Grant showed up. It wasn't just a residence, it was a place of ease, a real home, a place he actually liked returning to.
"Donald?"
Donald leaned over his work. "I'll tell him,” he blatantly lied.
---
A week later, Jack had invited himself over and told Grant, leaving before dinner was served.
“S-so, who keeps the new movies?” Grant asked after about fifteen minutes. “If you want them, I’ll buy another set.”
Donald dropped his fork loudly. “I don’t want the movies, Grant.”
Grant nodded frantically, ducking his head and, damnit, Donald didn’t want to deal with a withdrawn Grant again. “Okay, if you ever want to see them, you can borrow or you can come over or…“
Donald wanted to tell him no, let’s both have the movies, stay, but couldn’t find the words to.
---
Donald was starting to dislike Jack’s office. He always had conversations he didn’t like in here.
“So, Grant’s settled back in.”
“I heard. Do you have the 2001 reports?”
“Here. You gone to see him?”
“This is 2002. Not yet.”
The 2001 folder was pressed into Donald’s hand, but Jack didn’t let go when Donald pulled.
“How long are you gonna be like this, D’Arby?”
“Like what?”
“Like someone shot your mentally unbalanced dog.”
“He’s not unbalanced, he’s a savant.”
“If it’s going to upset your work, just invite him back. He’ll do it.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is.”
---
It was.
Donald went to check on Grant as he hooked up all his equipment again, only to get recruited into helping. He ended up literally tied with the wires and cables with Grant snickering as he slowly, one wire at a time, freed Donald, wisely keeping the equipment neatly wrapped around his arm.
“That was humiliating.” Donald said when he could finally sit up again.
He was knocked again on his back, enveloped in a huge hug with murmured thank yous against his neck. Donald laughed softly and pet Grant’s hair lightly, feeling lighter than he had all week.
---
“So, you’re not so snappy. You two kiss and make up?” Jack asked over his coffee.
“You know, I’m going to be very happy when you close this deal. Then I won’t have to deal with these… invigorating intellectual debates with you.” Donald grumbled.
“That’s a yes, then.” Jack nodded to himself. “Good. He’s too weird for anyone else to deal with, and he’s the only one who takes you seriously. Match made in heaven.”
Donald bit back a smile, not taking Jack's words as an insult, and remembered one of the science-y things Grant had babbled about before: Covalence.
------------------------------------------------------
Quick and dirty series of drabbles. I just wanted to test character voices- Jack’s crassness, Donald’s constant questions, and Grant’s disjointed ramble. Lemme know how I did. *bows*
Now, back to halfway decent (or at least crackful) fic.
-Luce
Title: Domesticity
Author: Lucia Zephyr
Rating: PG
Warnings: Drabbles, un-beta'ed.
Summary: Looks into Donald and Grant’s lives after the caffeine scare. Twelve quick drabbles with a vague plot. Co-stars Jack. Enjoy the sap.
------------------------------------------------------
Usually, Donald couldn’t get Grant to be quiet for more than ten seconds. As much as the man insisted on being cut off from people (and light and sound and non-sugary foods), he always seemed thrilled to have visitors. He’d jabber on about nothing and everything and give a heart-rending hurt expression when his company was leaving.
Now Donald had a silent roommate who walked around as if on nails and gave Donald a five-foot berth at all times, looking even more awkward about this arrangement than the Magda Fiasco.
It wasn’t what Donald expected when he made the offer.
---
It used to be a standard guest room- furniture that was very plain, halfway comfortable bed, empty closet, and a desk that used to be in the den, but now was set aside when better equipment came along. Very unpersonalized.
When Donald forgot an file at home, he returned to fetch it. The guestroom’s door was ajar and he spared the moment to look in. Grant was still quiet, making it hard to get a gauge on how he was, so maybe the room would have a hint.
If the new electronic assembly was a sign, things were going fine.
---
It took two weeks for Grant to emerge at breakfast in the morning. It turned out he was a morning person.
The fact that Donald wasn’t lead to this.
“Grant, I wasn’t angry with you, I just hadn’t had my coffee yet.” Donald leaned back to look at Grant.
“You had a knife!” Grant accused, rattling the vent’s grating.
“A butterknife. I was making toast. You have to come down. Jack’ll drag you out if need be.”
“I have the computer on auto-pilot. I- I can stay here forever!”
Donald wondered how he was going to explain this to everyone.
---
When he got in, he dropped his briefcase loudly on the floor and tossed his keys on the kitchen island.
“I thought you- you’re going out for drinks.” Grant’s voice came, making Donald start. “Did something happen?”
Donald’s ears burned, not willing to mention how some interns had gotten to trading jokes about G&R employees and eventually laughing about ‘Larken’s pet, Jansky’, mocking Grant’s movements and surprised stutter he spoke with so often. Not mentioning how Jack- Jack, of all people- had to talk Donald down from telling the younger men off.
So Donald smiled, false and tight. “Too noisy.”
---
It took getting used to, not being alone. Sure, he had visitors sometimes, but none had fallen into a routine for making dinner with him.
“Mushrooms?”
“Leave them whole.” Donald said absently, measuring out the milk.
“Cookbook says to dice them.” The knife in Grant’s hand hovered of the vegtables in question.
“They taste better whole.”
“It doesn’t say that.”
Donald, with one fluid motion, snapped the book shut and tossed it on the other counter. “Experience beats out education.”
Grant nodded like this was an invaluable gem of wisdom and Donald focused on the gravy, hiding a pleased smile.
---
Since Donald gained a accomplished geek for a roommate, his media library had doubled, possibly tripled.
“What about Close Encounters?”
“Ah, I don’t think so.”
“Here’s The Day the Earth Stood Still.”
“Less camp, more color, maybe?”
“2001: A Space Odyssey?”
“I think I’m seeing a pattern here, Grant.”
“Hey, Dr. Strangelove!”
“No end of the world films until the weekend.” They made Donald a bit fatalistic the next day.
“Python?”
“Um, as in B-movie or Monty?”
“The-the coconuts and Black Knight.”
That was the best compromise he’d get with Grant on film. “Put it in and grab the popcorn.”
---
Sometimes they were quiet, without awkwardness, the discreet coughing, one party looking at the other fleetingly. None of that, just quiet. Donald’d work on whatever mission the brass needed. Grant would sketching something on printer paper. It was comfortable, something truly novel in Donald’s world.
Donald D’Arby wasn’t a comfortable guy, in any sense of the word. The sudden realization that he was relaxed damaged that calm state of mind. Grant’s eyes flitted up, and the sea-blue caught his own brown.
‘As different as earth and sea’ popped into his head. He took a breath, enjoyed the silence for once.
---
"I spoke to the doctor today." Jack said without prompt as they sat in his office, planning an offer.
"Grant's doctor?" Donald responded, not really paying attention.
"Yeah. It's been a little over a month of," Jack grinned, "enforced choco-ffeine detox. It'd be safe for him to go home now."
The word 'home' made Donald start. His apartment was home- or had been since Grant showed up. It wasn't just a residence, it was a place of ease, a real home, a place he actually liked returning to.
"Donald?"
Donald leaned over his work. "I'll tell him,” he blatantly lied.
---
A week later, Jack had invited himself over and told Grant, leaving before dinner was served.
“S-so, who keeps the new movies?” Grant asked after about fifteen minutes. “If you want them, I’ll buy another set.”
Donald dropped his fork loudly. “I don’t want the movies, Grant.”
Grant nodded frantically, ducking his head and, damnit, Donald didn’t want to deal with a withdrawn Grant again. “Okay, if you ever want to see them, you can borrow or you can come over or…“
Donald wanted to tell him no, let’s both have the movies, stay, but couldn’t find the words to.
---
Donald was starting to dislike Jack’s office. He always had conversations he didn’t like in here.
“So, Grant’s settled back in.”
“I heard. Do you have the 2001 reports?”
“Here. You gone to see him?”
“This is 2002. Not yet.”
The 2001 folder was pressed into Donald’s hand, but Jack didn’t let go when Donald pulled.
“How long are you gonna be like this, D’Arby?”
“Like what?”
“Like someone shot your mentally unbalanced dog.”
“He’s not unbalanced, he’s a savant.”
“If it’s going to upset your work, just invite him back. He’ll do it.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is.”
---
It was.
Donald went to check on Grant as he hooked up all his equipment again, only to get recruited into helping. He ended up literally tied with the wires and cables with Grant snickering as he slowly, one wire at a time, freed Donald, wisely keeping the equipment neatly wrapped around his arm.
“That was humiliating.” Donald said when he could finally sit up again.
He was knocked again on his back, enveloped in a huge hug with murmured thank yous against his neck. Donald laughed softly and pet Grant’s hair lightly, feeling lighter than he had all week.
---
“So, you’re not so snappy. You two kiss and make up?” Jack asked over his coffee.
“You know, I’m going to be very happy when you close this deal. Then I won’t have to deal with these… invigorating intellectual debates with you.” Donald grumbled.
“That’s a yes, then.” Jack nodded to himself. “Good. He’s too weird for anyone else to deal with, and he’s the only one who takes you seriously. Match made in heaven.”
Donald bit back a smile, not taking Jack's words as an insult, and remembered one of the science-y things Grant had babbled about before: Covalence.
------------------------------------------------------
Quick and dirty series of drabbles. I just wanted to test character voices- Jack’s crassness, Donald’s constant questions, and Grant’s disjointed ramble. Lemme know how I did. *bows*
Now, back to halfway decent (or at least crackful) fic.
-Luce
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-18 07:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-18 08:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 08:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 02:50 pm (UTC)*preens*(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 10:04 am (UTC)And that was a really long winded way of saying: I really enjoyed this and wish I'd read it immediately. *g*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 02:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 03:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-21 09:12 pm (UTC)These are really fun. I think you captured all three of them really well. Grant's shyness and eagerness to please. Donald's seriousness and inability to try for what he really wants. Jack's an ass, but he can be right sometimes. Somehow, Grant and Donald really are suited for each other. And I love the hug.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-22 09:51 am (UTC)Donald/Grant are clicking together, and you captured that ;)
--Chris.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-22 01:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-25 10:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-29 07:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-10 04:34 pm (UTC)it really was very in character. i would think it hard to capture grants voice but you did it very well! i really liked this a lot!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-16 02:30 am (UTC)