Promt 21: Casual
Apr. 18th, 2011 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scarlettdreamPrompt 21: Casual
Duck and Buddy
Following on from Old Winter's song
also posted over at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ds_aprilfools
because this is april foolishness
Disclaimer: I don't own these guys and I don't have any money, I'm just doing this because I love them so, so please don't sue me.
Autumn had a real bite to it now, and the wind was chilling. Yet Duck still felt like he needed to stay out of the house until he was sure of himself for the night, and the cold seemed to help.
It had been a few weeks since Dan left and it was getting better, slowly. And he was honest enough with himself to admit it was probably something that had never destined to work.
Dan had been someone he had admired from a distance. Someone he had been drawn to save. And the drama and the misery, the threat hanging over everyone, had heightened their feelings, had made everything so intense. But the truth was, what Duck longed for was, something peaceful. Love that was gentle and made him feel calm, safe even. A person who he could sit quiet with, in the evenings. Someone who didn’t need to be saved and could trust Duck not to need saving neither. Or maybe someone who did need to be saved but would turn round and save Duck right back.
Truth was, from a distance Dan had looked like a man who might appreciate a little peace and quiet, but up close the silences falling between them had been awkward, and Duck had struggled to fill them. And then in the end Dan had broken the silence to say he couldn’t stay.
So Duck had his quiet back but strangely he wasn’t alone.
Every evening Buddy would be there. Standing down by the water‘s edge, or sitting on the rocks above where the breakers came in, smoking and looking out to sea.
At first Duck watched him from the high point on the cliffs above, the place where he always stood. He kept his distance, like he did with most people at first.
Maybe that habit started with his Daddy. Duck had never had the knack of getting along with his father, no matter how hard he tried and in the end he’d just stayed out of his way whenever he could. He’s always been cautious as a child; quiet and watchful until he knew where he stood. His mother had teased him about it when he was young, but she’d done it gently, like she knew why his first instinct was always to hang back and wait. Maybe it was something that had come from her. His mother had a quiet way with her, and yet she usually got what she wanted, even from his Daddy. Older people on the Island would say he had a lot of his mother in him. But he knew that he had his father’s temper when he drank.
But he didn’t fight now, not since the drinking had stopped. Although he’d surprised himself a while back, with that kid who’d been trying to get in Emily’s pants. But he supposed it was different, because no one would stand by and watch some punk kid push a girl around. He kept an eye on Emily now, and spoke to her sometimes, if he called in to Iggys for coffee and a donut first thing. He figured she needed a little looking out for.
He kept an eye on her mother too, Sandra. She had always been someone he‘d watch out for when he was back in school. He’d watched her and Buddy circle round each other back then, much like they’d been doing more recently. That had all come to an end though. He figured Sandra might have finally grown up a bit.
And that brought him back to Buddy. Sitting out at The Watch half the night. Seemed like Buddy needed some one to look out for him as well. Tongues had been wagging in the town about his wife leaving.
So some evenings, after he’d stood a while letting the sea and the cold, fresh air pare the troubles of the day off him, he’ll wander down to the shore. Taking it slow. Keeping it casual. Treating Buddy like he‘d treated Dan. Wary, like if he made too sudden a move it might startle him into running off.
Buddy would tense up at first, hearing someone approach, but he’d relax again, once he knew who it was. And they’d just hang out, standing on the beach or sitting on the rocks above the breakers. Far enough apart to have their own space and solitude, but close enough that it didn’t feel so lonesome looking out to sea like that, as the sky grew dark and night settled in.
Duck and Buddy
Following on from Old Winter's song
also posted over at
ds_aprilfoolsbecause this is april foolishness
Disclaimer: I don't own these guys and I don't have any money, I'm just doing this because I love them so, so please don't sue me.
Autumn had a real bite to it now, and the wind was chilling. Yet Duck still felt like he needed to stay out of the house until he was sure of himself for the night, and the cold seemed to help.
It had been a few weeks since Dan left and it was getting better, slowly. And he was honest enough with himself to admit it was probably something that had never destined to work.
Dan had been someone he had admired from a distance. Someone he had been drawn to save. And the drama and the misery, the threat hanging over everyone, had heightened their feelings, had made everything so intense. But the truth was, what Duck longed for was, something peaceful. Love that was gentle and made him feel calm, safe even. A person who he could sit quiet with, in the evenings. Someone who didn’t need to be saved and could trust Duck not to need saving neither. Or maybe someone who did need to be saved but would turn round and save Duck right back.
Truth was, from a distance Dan had looked like a man who might appreciate a little peace and quiet, but up close the silences falling between them had been awkward, and Duck had struggled to fill them. And then in the end Dan had broken the silence to say he couldn’t stay.
So Duck had his quiet back but strangely he wasn’t alone.
Every evening Buddy would be there. Standing down by the water‘s edge, or sitting on the rocks above where the breakers came in, smoking and looking out to sea.
At first Duck watched him from the high point on the cliffs above, the place where he always stood. He kept his distance, like he did with most people at first.
Maybe that habit started with his Daddy. Duck had never had the knack of getting along with his father, no matter how hard he tried and in the end he’d just stayed out of his way whenever he could. He’s always been cautious as a child; quiet and watchful until he knew where he stood. His mother had teased him about it when he was young, but she’d done it gently, like she knew why his first instinct was always to hang back and wait. Maybe it was something that had come from her. His mother had a quiet way with her, and yet she usually got what she wanted, even from his Daddy. Older people on the Island would say he had a lot of his mother in him. But he knew that he had his father’s temper when he drank.
But he didn’t fight now, not since the drinking had stopped. Although he’d surprised himself a while back, with that kid who’d been trying to get in Emily’s pants. But he supposed it was different, because no one would stand by and watch some punk kid push a girl around. He kept an eye on Emily now, and spoke to her sometimes, if he called in to Iggys for coffee and a donut first thing. He figured she needed a little looking out for.
He kept an eye on her mother too, Sandra. She had always been someone he‘d watch out for when he was back in school. He’d watched her and Buddy circle round each other back then, much like they’d been doing more recently. That had all come to an end though. He figured Sandra might have finally grown up a bit.
And that brought him back to Buddy. Sitting out at The Watch half the night. Seemed like Buddy needed some one to look out for him as well. Tongues had been wagging in the town about his wife leaving.
So some evenings, after he’d stood a while letting the sea and the cold, fresh air pare the troubles of the day off him, he’ll wander down to the shore. Taking it slow. Keeping it casual. Treating Buddy like he‘d treated Dan. Wary, like if he made too sudden a move it might startle him into running off.
Buddy would tense up at first, hearing someone approach, but he’d relax again, once he knew who it was. And they’d just hang out, standing on the beach or sitting on the rocks above the breakers. Far enough apart to have their own space and solitude, but close enough that it didn’t feel so lonesome looking out to sea like that, as the sky grew dark and night settled in.
