bribing a skylark: attempt one
Mar. 13th, 2008 09:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrThe first four pages. Plan to work on it more once my sister is gone, and I am sad and lonely once more.
Skylark wrote a pretty about a dragon who wanted a courtesan to teach him about seduction. It's an idea I've been dying to play with, and while I think Sky's setup is far more shiney - here is my attempt, and I hope it is worthy enough a bribe.
<3
Jude strode along the park, desperately bored and eager for anything to relieve it.
Famous last words, he knew, but he meant them all the same. Whatever might come to pass, it had to be better than this awful ennui.
He gazed with disinterest across the lush surroundings, all manner of plants and trees and flowers combined as only a royal could command. The royal park was a thing of beauty, truly. More times than he could remember had he brought one lover or another here for an intimate picnic or a moonlight tryst.
Rare were these solitary visits. He wasn't quite certain what to do with himself.
There were people he could have brought…but where was the thrill in the familiar? The tried and true? He wanted someone new to amuse him.
Or perhaps he should just cease to take lovers altogether. Each one bored him more quickly than the previous.
A breeze stirred the trees that lined the path upon which he walked, blowing pale pink petals everywhere. He brushed them from his deep blue coat and brown breeches, picked them from his now-tousled pale gold curls.
One little bit of amusement, that was all he asked for. Something really and truly worthy of his attention. Something to capture and enthrall him.
Instead he was spending the afternoon trolling an empty park, because it was the only way to avoid all the bothersome people who wanted him to do dreadfully boring things.
Sighing at himself, as disgusted by his petulance as his apathy, Jude continued walking.
Eventually the cherry trees came to an end, the pathway taking him to the large pond. Swans glided across the surface, thankfully quiet. Marble benches dotted the bank, empty to the last.
No. Not quite.
Jude slowed his steps a bit as he drew closer to the occupied bench. The man looked familiar, and he rifled through his store of faces and names.
Ah. There it was. Crispin Ford, the youngest son of Earl Ford. His mother was a foreigner from the northeast, and her youngest son bore the marks of that – blue-black hair, cut unfortunately short. A bit more length would do him wonders, as would clothes finer than the simple things he wore. Such severe black and the plain knot in his neck cloth…
Well, it was nothing to do with him. If he recalled correctly, the man was only a year or so out of school, and the reclusive sort. At least, Jude could not recall ever seeing him dancing and drinking with his peers or even his family.
Presently, young Ford was bent over a writing case, scratching furiously at a piece of paper, writing then crossing words out, writing again.
Jude weighed his options. Walking was boring, would conversation with a quiet young man be equally as boring? Well, at least with young Ford there was some chance he might prove distracting.
"Good day to you. What brings a young man to this dreadfully boring park?"
Ford yelped, there was no other word to describe the sound, as his papers went flying all about. His eyes – a deep, dark blue, Jude did not recall his brothers having such eyes – went wide, face flushing red. "My lord, I did not hear your approach."
Jude chuckled. "So I see. I do apologize. Let me help you gather your papers." He snatched one from the air as the wind tried to steal it, one brow quirking at the slightly panicked look that overtook Ford's face. "Hmm," he teased, amused by the obvious discomfort, "writing sonnets by the pond? How…traditional."
Though he hadn't thought it possible, Ford flushed even darker. "Hardly sonnets, my lord. Only a letter, and I have not accomplished even that." Hastily Ford finished gathering all his things, stuffing the papers into the writing case.
"So it is a matter of affection," Jude said, amusement growing. "Traditional, indeed. You do not simply choose the route of seduction? That is more traditional still."
If any more blood stained those pretty cheeks, the lad would pass out for want of blood in other portions of his body. "I am hardly capable of seduction, my lord," Ford replied, bitterness and sadness thick in his voice, woven through with mortification that they were even discussing it.
Jude chuckled softly. "Seduction is not so hard a thing to learn."
"Indeed, my lord." Sadness dominated his voice this time, flickering across his face. "Everyone knows, my lord, you are a master of such things. I am precisely the opposite." He looked away, then looked back and bobbed his head in an apologetic nod. "No doubt I am also quite boring. Forgive me, my lord. I should not burden you with my problems."
"Not at all," Jude replied, and realized he meant it. How could he complain? The conversation was amusing, entertaining, and an idea had begun to tease. Outrageous, to be certain, but now that he'd thought of it, he could not give up the thought. "I was the one to startle you, after all. So you know nothing of the ways of seduction? The pleasures of the flesh?"
Ford's face flushed anew. He half wondered if it was a perpetual state. "Do I look as though I would, my lord?" His eyes flashed with an anger at odds with the discomfort turning his face red. "I have done nothing to warrant such mockery, my lord."
Jude lifted both brows. A shy little kitten, to be certain, but even kittens had claws and teeth. How deliciously distracting. "No mockery was intended, I do beg your pardon. It was intended an honest question. You are pretty enough, and many favor that youthful, innocent air."
"Indeed," Ford said tightly, eyes jerking away to gaze out over the pond. "Unfortunately, too many prefer experience."
Jude smiled, surprising himself. Then again, he was most certainly not feeling bored now. That was plenty enough reason to smile. "So you reduce yourself to penning letters, rather than going about learning the ways of flesh?"
The cheeks burned again. Honestly, that would have to be overcome, amusing though it may be. Jude wondered idly how far the flush extended, if he burned red from head to foot when truly overcome. The idea was…strangely appealing. "As I said, my lord, I lack your talents. Neither have I a way of obtaining them. What is easy for you….is far more difficult for me." He stared at the ground, cheeks deep scarlet, and Jude realized now the flush carried a touch of shame.
Well, that certainly was not necessary. Not everyone need be a hopeless rake like himself. It was a vastly amusing life, most of the time, but it had its own pitfalls.
He moved the slightest step closer, just barely invading Ford's personal space – but it was more than enough to make Ford take a step back, then another as Jude moved closer again. Until Ford collided with a tree.
So easy.
Jude braced his hand just to the left of Ford's head, almost laughing at the way those dark, dark eyes went wide. "Would you like to learn?"
Ford choked. "W-what?"
This time he did chuckle, reaching up idly to dust the knuckle of his right hand down Jude's left cheek. "Well, you call me a master, and you are an innocent in need of lessons. I am in need of an interesting way to pass the time, and you want to know how to seduce your man. I would call it a fair exchange."
It was a wonder there was blood left for the rest of his body, so much of it seemed to have gather in Ford's face. "My-my lord. You could not possibly mean…"
"Oh, but I do," Jude said, dropping his hand and stepping away. "One month, say? That will bring us to her Majesty's Summer Gala. The perfect opportunity to seduce your man. By then, I will have made you a master in your own right."
Ford's eyes were still so wide. He licked his lips. "You are making a mockery of me, my lord. I cannot see why you would offer such a thing. Indeed, are you not one of those who prefers experience?"
"I prefer not to be bored," Jude replied, moving close again, trapping Ford between him and the tree. "So what say you, innocent? Yes or no?"
Seconds turned to minutes as Ford stared at the ground, at the pond, at his discarded writing case. Finally he looked up, a hint of something – determination, stubbornness, or maybe defiance – in his eyes, the tilt of his chin. "Very well, my lord. Accepted. However, if you are to give me lessons, then there should be payment?"
Jude laughed and bent down just enough to brush a feather-soft kiss across Ford's lips. "Oh, I think I shall receive payment aplenty from the arrangement." He pulled away, amused at the dazed look upon Ford's face. "And as I said, it will keep me from boredom. That is all I truly require."
"Of course," Ford replied, the words oddly calm. Then again, he did look rather overwhelmed. How entertaining. He was used to men who knew all the rules, all the plays, men far too jaded to be affected by such a simple kiss – if they bothered to kiss at all.
"Call upon me tomorrow, young Ford," Jude said stepping further away, giving Ford breathing space.
Ford looked at him, then looked away, cheeks once more burning fiercely. "Yes, my lord."
Jude laughed softly. "Under the circumstances, I think you must call me Jude."
"Crispin," Ford replied. "Calling me Ford makes me think of my father or brothers."
"As you like, then, Crispin. Call in the early afternoon, I will treat you to lunch. Lessons will begin shortly thereafter." Winking, Jude turned and strode away before Crispin could say anything further, mind spinning with ideas for all the lessons he could and would give.
Skylark wrote a pretty about a dragon who wanted a courtesan to teach him about seduction. It's an idea I've been dying to play with, and while I think Sky's setup is far more shiney - here is my attempt, and I hope it is worthy enough a bribe.
<3
Jude strode along the park, desperately bored and eager for anything to relieve it.
Famous last words, he knew, but he meant them all the same. Whatever might come to pass, it had to be better than this awful ennui.
He gazed with disinterest across the lush surroundings, all manner of plants and trees and flowers combined as only a royal could command. The royal park was a thing of beauty, truly. More times than he could remember had he brought one lover or another here for an intimate picnic or a moonlight tryst.
Rare were these solitary visits. He wasn't quite certain what to do with himself.
There were people he could have brought…but where was the thrill in the familiar? The tried and true? He wanted someone new to amuse him.
Or perhaps he should just cease to take lovers altogether. Each one bored him more quickly than the previous.
A breeze stirred the trees that lined the path upon which he walked, blowing pale pink petals everywhere. He brushed them from his deep blue coat and brown breeches, picked them from his now-tousled pale gold curls.
One little bit of amusement, that was all he asked for. Something really and truly worthy of his attention. Something to capture and enthrall him.
Instead he was spending the afternoon trolling an empty park, because it was the only way to avoid all the bothersome people who wanted him to do dreadfully boring things.
Sighing at himself, as disgusted by his petulance as his apathy, Jude continued walking.
Eventually the cherry trees came to an end, the pathway taking him to the large pond. Swans glided across the surface, thankfully quiet. Marble benches dotted the bank, empty to the last.
No. Not quite.
Jude slowed his steps a bit as he drew closer to the occupied bench. The man looked familiar, and he rifled through his store of faces and names.
Ah. There it was. Crispin Ford, the youngest son of Earl Ford. His mother was a foreigner from the northeast, and her youngest son bore the marks of that – blue-black hair, cut unfortunately short. A bit more length would do him wonders, as would clothes finer than the simple things he wore. Such severe black and the plain knot in his neck cloth…
Well, it was nothing to do with him. If he recalled correctly, the man was only a year or so out of school, and the reclusive sort. At least, Jude could not recall ever seeing him dancing and drinking with his peers or even his family.
Presently, young Ford was bent over a writing case, scratching furiously at a piece of paper, writing then crossing words out, writing again.
Jude weighed his options. Walking was boring, would conversation with a quiet young man be equally as boring? Well, at least with young Ford there was some chance he might prove distracting.
"Good day to you. What brings a young man to this dreadfully boring park?"
Ford yelped, there was no other word to describe the sound, as his papers went flying all about. His eyes – a deep, dark blue, Jude did not recall his brothers having such eyes – went wide, face flushing red. "My lord, I did not hear your approach."
Jude chuckled. "So I see. I do apologize. Let me help you gather your papers." He snatched one from the air as the wind tried to steal it, one brow quirking at the slightly panicked look that overtook Ford's face. "Hmm," he teased, amused by the obvious discomfort, "writing sonnets by the pond? How…traditional."
Though he hadn't thought it possible, Ford flushed even darker. "Hardly sonnets, my lord. Only a letter, and I have not accomplished even that." Hastily Ford finished gathering all his things, stuffing the papers into the writing case.
"So it is a matter of affection," Jude said, amusement growing. "Traditional, indeed. You do not simply choose the route of seduction? That is more traditional still."
If any more blood stained those pretty cheeks, the lad would pass out for want of blood in other portions of his body. "I am hardly capable of seduction, my lord," Ford replied, bitterness and sadness thick in his voice, woven through with mortification that they were even discussing it.
Jude chuckled softly. "Seduction is not so hard a thing to learn."
"Indeed, my lord." Sadness dominated his voice this time, flickering across his face. "Everyone knows, my lord, you are a master of such things. I am precisely the opposite." He looked away, then looked back and bobbed his head in an apologetic nod. "No doubt I am also quite boring. Forgive me, my lord. I should not burden you with my problems."
"Not at all," Jude replied, and realized he meant it. How could he complain? The conversation was amusing, entertaining, and an idea had begun to tease. Outrageous, to be certain, but now that he'd thought of it, he could not give up the thought. "I was the one to startle you, after all. So you know nothing of the ways of seduction? The pleasures of the flesh?"
Ford's face flushed anew. He half wondered if it was a perpetual state. "Do I look as though I would, my lord?" His eyes flashed with an anger at odds with the discomfort turning his face red. "I have done nothing to warrant such mockery, my lord."
Jude lifted both brows. A shy little kitten, to be certain, but even kittens had claws and teeth. How deliciously distracting. "No mockery was intended, I do beg your pardon. It was intended an honest question. You are pretty enough, and many favor that youthful, innocent air."
"Indeed," Ford said tightly, eyes jerking away to gaze out over the pond. "Unfortunately, too many prefer experience."
Jude smiled, surprising himself. Then again, he was most certainly not feeling bored now. That was plenty enough reason to smile. "So you reduce yourself to penning letters, rather than going about learning the ways of flesh?"
The cheeks burned again. Honestly, that would have to be overcome, amusing though it may be. Jude wondered idly how far the flush extended, if he burned red from head to foot when truly overcome. The idea was…strangely appealing. "As I said, my lord, I lack your talents. Neither have I a way of obtaining them. What is easy for you….is far more difficult for me." He stared at the ground, cheeks deep scarlet, and Jude realized now the flush carried a touch of shame.
Well, that certainly was not necessary. Not everyone need be a hopeless rake like himself. It was a vastly amusing life, most of the time, but it had its own pitfalls.
He moved the slightest step closer, just barely invading Ford's personal space – but it was more than enough to make Ford take a step back, then another as Jude moved closer again. Until Ford collided with a tree.
So easy.
Jude braced his hand just to the left of Ford's head, almost laughing at the way those dark, dark eyes went wide. "Would you like to learn?"
Ford choked. "W-what?"
This time he did chuckle, reaching up idly to dust the knuckle of his right hand down Jude's left cheek. "Well, you call me a master, and you are an innocent in need of lessons. I am in need of an interesting way to pass the time, and you want to know how to seduce your man. I would call it a fair exchange."
It was a wonder there was blood left for the rest of his body, so much of it seemed to have gather in Ford's face. "My-my lord. You could not possibly mean…"
"Oh, but I do," Jude said, dropping his hand and stepping away. "One month, say? That will bring us to her Majesty's Summer Gala. The perfect opportunity to seduce your man. By then, I will have made you a master in your own right."
Ford's eyes were still so wide. He licked his lips. "You are making a mockery of me, my lord. I cannot see why you would offer such a thing. Indeed, are you not one of those who prefers experience?"
"I prefer not to be bored," Jude replied, moving close again, trapping Ford between him and the tree. "So what say you, innocent? Yes or no?"
Seconds turned to minutes as Ford stared at the ground, at the pond, at his discarded writing case. Finally he looked up, a hint of something – determination, stubbornness, or maybe defiance – in his eyes, the tilt of his chin. "Very well, my lord. Accepted. However, if you are to give me lessons, then there should be payment?"
Jude laughed and bent down just enough to brush a feather-soft kiss across Ford's lips. "Oh, I think I shall receive payment aplenty from the arrangement." He pulled away, amused at the dazed look upon Ford's face. "And as I said, it will keep me from boredom. That is all I truly require."
"Of course," Ford replied, the words oddly calm. Then again, he did look rather overwhelmed. How entertaining. He was used to men who knew all the rules, all the plays, men far too jaded to be affected by such a simple kiss – if they bothered to kiss at all.
"Call upon me tomorrow, young Ford," Jude said stepping further away, giving Ford breathing space.
Ford looked at him, then looked away, cheeks once more burning fiercely. "Yes, my lord."
Jude laughed softly. "Under the circumstances, I think you must call me Jude."
"Crispin," Ford replied. "Calling me Ford makes me think of my father or brothers."
"As you like, then, Crispin. Call in the early afternoon, I will treat you to lunch. Lessons will begin shortly thereafter." Winking, Jude turned and strode away before Crispin could say anything further, mind spinning with ideas for all the lessons he could and would give.
