Fic: untitled

[mylodon]

HH/TW/DW/Shifting Sands.

"Jack bloody Harkness." Hornblower beat his fists on the stonework of
the bridge. "Bloody Jack bloody Harkness. And sodding William sodding Doctor sodding Bush."

"He's still technically your commanding officer, Horatio."

"I beg to differ, but technically he can't be. You seem to be aged about." Hornblower turned Archie's face, as if to get a better view, "nineteen, and so do I if the mirror isn't lying, so we'e still midshipmen. Which means Mr "Send-you-back-through-time-and whoops-may-have-made-a-mistake-with-your-appearance-en-route" doesn't
even know us yet."

"I'm not sure it was a mistake. I suspect he had to change our looks or else we've have stuck out like a dirty jacket among the Indy's topsails. I mean, we're a bit long in the tooth for students, aren't we? Or," Archie added, mindful of how beautifully young Horatio looked, "weren't we? Before you acquired those spectacles."

Hornblower shuddered. "That was a great shock, looking in the glass. And these clothes," he picked at the baggy jumper and the equally shapeless trousers with distaste, "how anyone can feel a gentleman in these."

"This sheepskin coat's no better, look at it." Kennedy twirled around.

"I've not stopped looking at you since we arrived. It's strange enough to see you so young again, so.untouched by sorrow." Horatio's words dripped with tenderness, moved beyond measure by the glowing radiance of Archie's face, his innocent beauty.

Kennedy, afraid of mawkishness in broad daylight, even in this enlightened place and time, turned the subject. "Those spectacles make you look ravishing. If you'd had them back on the Indy I'd never have concentrated on anything, Horatio. No, I must remember to address you correctly. Danny."

Horatio blushed and bridled, as he always did when secretly delighted but a bit self conscious. "Danny. What sort of a name is that?"

"Better than I've got. Bean. Bean? I know they go by all sorts of daft names these days - Kylies and Waynes and who knows what - but I think that's the worst. Even if it is a nickname. We should call William `Turnip' and see how he likes it."

"So where," Horatio held up a street map, "is this Peterhouse college, of which the bursar is said to be," he consulted a piece of paper, "an alien from the planet Griffidickonus, bent on world domination?" He grimaced. "As if they're ever bent on anything else."

"Very true, Horatio. You really would have thought that there must be creatures on other planets who are kind and pleasant and fond of a game of cricket, or whatever the equivalent is wherever they come
from. But alas, all they want to do is take over the world - I wonder if Napoleon came from Mars or some other planet far across the Milky Way?"

Hornblower rolled his eyes, theatrically as usual. "It wouldn't surprise me at all. Still, this should be easier than fighting one of old Bones Apart's ships of the line. Slip a powder in this chap's tea, tie him up and wait for William and the TARDIS."

"Easy enough; but not until this evening - he's at a meeting until then. I wonder what an alien with world domination on his mind thinks of University finance?"

"He probably wants to use it to take over the world."

"And what are we to do till then? I have the name," Archie consulted his own piece of paper, "Fitzbillies and Chelsea buns recommended to me, also wandering up the river to see the rowing. Perhaps a piano recital or a trip to the market. Anything to keep out of mischief until P hour."

"Keep out of mischief? You? Even an alien set on world domination couldn't keep you on the straight and narrow."

Comments

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaha!! Gehayi and I often nod sagely over some historical events and realise that it was probably caused by Mr Harkness passing through.

What are you on, and send me some - PLEASE!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

I think the Jack Harkness theory has to be a valid one.

What am I on? No bloody idea. All genetic - was born like this and middle daughter is just as nutty. You can has my DNA?

[jestana.livejournal.com]

This was funny, even though I have no idea what Shifting Sands is. *amused* You write their banter so well. *grin*

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) Me + banter 2getha 4evah.

Shifting Sands is the first film that Jamie made, when he was still up at Cambridge, Features his first kiss, too - see icon.

[jestana.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

That's right. *grin* Mmm, pretty. *stares at your icon*

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

trusea has an even nicer icon of this scene - very shiny.

[jestana.livejournal.com]

I didn't see it on her profile. I guess she took it down. *sniff*

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

How odd. Perhaps she replaced it with Owen Hargreaves.

[jestana.livejournal.com]

It's possible, yes. *amused*

[lokei.livejournal.com]

*laughter* Excellent. Bloody Jack bloody Harkness indeed. Poor Horatio. Though I suspect he looks simply ravishing in specs.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Poor time-shifted Horatio indeed.

You would faint if you met Horatio in his Danny specs. Archie nearly had to have sal volatile administered.

[lokei.livejournal.com]

Archie has good taste. *grin*

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Laughs. Funny and delightful!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I fear for my sanity at times... :)

[bauhiniakapok.livejournal.com]

You really would have thought that there must be creatures on other planets who are kind and pleasant and fond of a game of cricket, or whatever the equivalent is wherever they come
from. But alas, all they want to do is take over the world - I wonder if Napoleon came from Mars or some other planet far across the Milky Way?"


Actually, I distinctly remember that one of Douglas Adams' books featured aliens (and their human friends, perhaps) visiting a game of cricket. There was a spaceship hidden by a SEP (Somebody Else's Problem) invisibility field. And perhaps the aliens made off with the wicket. It's been a long time so the details are fuzzy, but at least I'm pretty sure they weren't trying to take over the world at the time.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Now, I wonder if I read that many moons ago and had it in the back of my mind?

[bauhiniakapok.livejournal.com]

If you haven't, you should - Hitchhiker's is the best. I think it was also one of my first literary exposures to cricket, which sounded utterly mystifying. Ah, here it is, I looked it up:

Of all the races in the Galaxy, only the English could possibly revive the memory of the most horrific wars ever to sunder the Universe and transform it into into what I'm afraid is generally regarded as an incomprehensibly dull and pointless game.
Douglas Adams, Life the Universe and Everything (1982).

And Bill Bryson furthered my incomprehension:
It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavours look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect. I don't wish to denigrate a sport that is enjoyed by millions, some of them awake and facing the right way, but it is an odd game.
Bill Bryson, Down Under (2000)
Hee hee!

But of course, reading the Wodehouse school day books made me realize that cricket is a very serious business indeed. And I've heard there are tea and strawberries, which are always a good thing.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

I read most (if not all) of THGTTG when it first came out, and listened to the radio version.

Cricket is an extraordinarily exciting game, even when it goes on for five days without a winner. Not as exciting as rugby, though.