New Hercules story: "Sea-change"
Dec. 20th, 2005 09:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marycrawfordOkay, so remember how I said I'd finish two of my languishing Hercules: the Legendary Journeys stories? Well, this is one of them. I hope I can manage the other as well. (The longer one. *cough*)
This story is a present for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
falzalot, who gave me the setup for it a long time ago and hardly nagged me to finish it at all. And I wish I could smuggle it in to you right now, inside a cake or something, but failing that, I'll post it and email it as well. Here's to you, and I hope you're better soon!
Many thanks toltlj for beta'ing and letting me use one of her zingers, and to elynross and therienne for beta and encouragement.
Title: Sea-change
Summary: Hercules worries, Iolaus comforts, Nebula watches. For a while.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hercules/Iolaus/Nebula
Size: 15 Kb
Sea-change
Hercules stood at the Dolphin's railing, watching the first stars come out in the clear sky. Another three days would get them back to Corinth and thence to King Zolas, provided the weather held. They had done everything they could to get the ship seaworthy, but the repairs wouldn't last through another storm. He sighed, thinking of Cercetes and his men, whom they had buried on the island. At some point Iolaus and he would have to find their families and give them the news. He hated that part.
Iolaus came up to the railing and bumped shoulders with him. "Hey."
"Everything all right?" Hercules asked casually.
Iolaus rubbed his neck and gazed at the rolling waves. "Looks like it, yeah. Of course the mast has to be replaced, and there's not enough spare rope to do a really good job with the rigging..."
Hercules listened patiently as Iolaus catalogued all the ship's remaining defects. He could say, 'That's not what I meant, really,' but Iolaus would only find another way to deflect the question. Yet he had to ask now, while Nebula was at the wheel - he had a feeling Iolaus would rather have his legs chewed off than admit to anything in front of her.
"Nebula said you and Arachne were...getting close, when she found you," he said, interrupting Iolaus mid-gesture.
Iolaus cocked his head and grinned. "Oh, yeah? Did she sound jealous?"
Hercules snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure."
Iolaus eyed him, then dug an elbow into his ribs. "Worried?"
"About what?" Hercules said cautiously, looking down at Iolaus.
Iolaus rolled his eyes. "Oh, I dunno. Me having lots of spider babies while you sleep?"
Hercules considered this idea. "Yuck."
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up for me, too."
Giving up for now, Hercules dropped an arm around Iolaus' shoulders, and they watched the Pleiades come out until Nebula called Hercules up to the upper deck for his shift at the wheel.
***
Nebula had set a course that hugged the mainland shore, and just before moonrise, Hercules steered the ship into a narrow bay overshadowed by rocky cliffs, where they could lie at anchor for the night. They could have kept going if necessary, trading shifts at the wheel, but they hadn't even discussed that option. It had been a long, exhausting day.
While Iolaus let down the anchor at the ship's stern, Hercules climbed down the ladder into the gloomy hold, bending his head to avoid the low beams. He found the lantern hanging from a crossbeam by touch and lit it carefully, then held it up to look around.
Rolled-up hammocks hung toward his left, and the rest of the hold was taken up with Cercetes' cargo, mainly wine, olive oil, and sacks of wheat. The racks of amphorae had withstood the storm, packed in netting and lashed tightly to the beams, but one of the sacks of wheat had burst. He had to step carefully to avoid slipping on the kernels.
Wood creaked as Iolaus set foot upon the ladder. "Did you get our stuff?" he called down.
"Working on it," Hercules called back, taking another careful step toward the corner of the hold where he'd dumped their supplies and bending low to avoid another beam.
"Hey, wonder if this wine is any good," Iolaus said, coming down the ladder. He moved toward the amphorae with easy strides.
"Show-off," Hercules said fondly.
Iolaus had unsealed an amphora and was eyeing it with faint suspicion. "This smells...Yeah. It's that Etruscan stuff that Jason used to drink. Tastes like goat's piss."
"What, you finally met a wine you don't like?" Hercules said, grinning.
"Water it down and see for yourself." Iolaus made a disgusted face. "I'd rather drink seawater."
"No, thanks." Hercules picked up their supplies. "Which hammock are you taking?" He knew from long experience that no hammock on the ship would fit him, but Iolaus didn't have that problem.
Iolaus spared the hammocks a cursory glance. "Nah, I'm going to sleep on deck."
Nebula was sleeping up there, too. Hercules hunted about for a delicate way to ask the next question, then gave up. "Want me to stay below?"
Iolaus raised his eyebrows, looking vaguely annoyed. "What in Tartarus are you talking about?"
Hercules just looked at him.
Iolaus' eyebrows slowly came down. "...Oh. No, come on up." He ran a hand through his hair. "Anyway, it's stuffy down here."
"Right," Hercules said, trying not to sound relieved.
***
Hercules woke with a shudder. He had dreamed he was back in the cave looking for Iolaus, running through an endless maze of rock with Arachne's spiderlings chittering all around him.
It was a relief to see Iolaus asleep right next to him, dimly lit by the waning moon. Nebula was further away, sleeping right next to King Zolas' treasure. Hercules rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to make his heartbeat slow down. Beside him, Iolaus turned over on his back, making stifled sounds, little more than puffs of breath. He had wrapped his blankets tightly about himself, even though it was a warm night and the cliffs sheltered them from the wind, and he seemed to be struggling with them.
"Iolaus?" Hercules said softly. He laid his hand on Iolaus' shoulder.
Only very fast reflexes saved Hercules from a broken nose as Iolaus sat up abruptly, looking wild-eyed. "Wha-"
"Easy, it's me."
Iolaus pushed the blankets off, then ran a hand through his tousled hair and shook his head as if trying to get rid of something.
"Dreaming about Arachne?" Hercules said. Iolaus gave him a narrow-eyed stare, and he added, "I did."
"Hunh." Iolaus scrubbed at his face with his hand and began to arrange his blankets, spreading them out on the deck. Like Hercules, he had stripped down to his breechclout; they had hung their clothes in the rigging to dry. His hair fell forward, hiding his expression, but the muscles in his back were tight with tension.
Hercules watched him with growing worry. Normally, he was the one who fussed over blankets, and Iolaus was the one who yelled at him until he stopped. Yelling probably wouldn't help in this case, though.
"I dreamed I was looking for you," Hercules said, hoping to draw him out. "I was worried I'd be too late." He tried not to flinch as he said it. The dream had been bad, but not nearly as bad as the waking nightmare of looking for Iolaus in a cave full of cocoons and acid-eaten corpses. He was very, very grateful to Nebula for showing up when she had.
"Yeah?" Iolaus said absently. He had smoothed out the last wrinkle in his blankets, but he didn't turn. "I was dreaming about the Minotaur."
That made sense. Horrible sense. Hercules moved closer and clasped his upper arm in sympathy. Iolaus looked at him over his shoulder and grinned wryly. "It's pretty funny, really. When did waking up stuffed in a cocoon become a part of my life?"
Hercules lifted an eyebrow. "Ever since you met me?"
"Yeah, that must be it. I guess that means you owe me."
"But I don't have any money," Hercules said, deadpan.
Iolaus' grin reached his eyes. "Oh, I'll think of something."
***
Nebula watched the interplay between the two men from beneath her lashes, keeping her breathing slow and even. So, Iolaus was uncommunicative, and Hercules was worried. Again. It seemed to be his role in the relationship, or one of them.
Nebula had had to revise her opinion of Hercules and Iolaus several times. She wasn't used to that, and it intrigued her. Hercules had struck her as a typical hero at first, all brawn and bravado, while Iolaus had to be a hanger-on. After all, why would a demigod keep company with a mortal except to make himself look big? A gorilla and his pet chimp, she had called them, to cover for her chagrin at being outmatched. She had expected them to react in anger - nothing betrayed a man's nature more quickly than anger - but instead, they had just traded exasperated looks and helped her up from the ground.
She had not been impressed by the company they were keeping, either. A backstabbing coward like Paxon wouldn't have lasted a week under her command. But that was before she found out that Hercules and Iolaus had only been passengers on Ceretes' ship. Her ship, now, though possibly Hercules hadn't realized it yet.
When Hercules went back for Iolaus after Arachne had taken him, she'd thought him a fool. After being trapped in the caves for weeks on end, trying and failing to keep her own crew alive, she had been certain that Iolaus was dead. It wasn't Hercules' courage that had impressed her, but his desperation. If he was willing to risk that much, then she could do no less. There was something about that man that made the impossible sound reasonable.
And Iolaus...Well. Hercules might be the son of thunder, but Iolaus had the fire. He also had Hercules wound around his little finger, which was impressive in itself, and yet he had made it very clear that that had no bearing on any other partners he might choose.
She smiled to herself, watching the moonlight turn their bodies to silver. The one thing she hadn't changed her opinion on was that they were two very good-looking men.
And, oh, now it was getting interesting. Iolaus had apparently gotten over his snit, or whatever it was, and was looking up at Hercules in a way she recognized. He'd looked at her that way when he was checking out her tattoos. Or pretending that that was what he was doing.
She slipped out of her bedroll. Time to cut herself in for a little slice of the action.
***
Iolaus looked up over Hercules' shoulder to see Nebula stalking toward them. She was dressed only in a thin shift that clung to her every curve. Hercules said something, but he had no idea what it was.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi." She smiled at him, looking like a bronze goddess in the moonlight. No, don't think of goddesses, Iolaus told himself, or one of them will show up and it'll be the thing with the apple all over again. Think of seawater. Very cold seawater.
Hercules sat up, facing Nebula and obstructing Iolaus' view. Iolaus hit his shoulder, but Hercules didn't budge. Ah. Still didn't trust her, then. Oddly enough, Iolaus did, even though he had seen her hold a knife at Hercules' throat that morning. Generally he didn't look kindly upon people who did that, but with Nebula, it was just as likely to be a sign of affection. Plus he had to admire a woman who wore fewer clothes than he did and still managed to stow more knives in them.
"You know what?" Nebula said. She dropped to her knees gracefully, facing them. "I forgot something."
"Well, we're not going back for it," Iolaus said, shoving Hercules until he moved over so he could see Nebula's face. "Not unless you ask nicely," he amended, grinning up at her.
"Not that kind of something," Nebula said. "I forgot to say thank you."
"Well, you saved me from becoming spider food, we'll call it even," Iolaus said.
Nebula's eyes glinted. "Still." She moved in closer and bent towards him. Iolaus closed his eyes. Her lips tasted of salt, and her hair fell forward to tickle at his bare shoulder. He sighed against her mouth, and she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him harder.
The deck creaked to his left, and Iolaus tore himself away with an effort to say, "Herc, wait--"
Hercules picked up his bedroll and glanced at Iolaus, his expression bland. Iolaus glared at him. Damn him for being so noble. Okay, generally he did appreciate Hercules' discretion, but the thought of him sleeping alone in the damp hold, dreaming of spiders, was making his gut clench.
Nebula looked down at him and her lips shaped the words, Don't worry. Then she was on her feet and moving toward Hercules.
"Thank you," she said again, and locked her arms around Hercules' neck to draw him down. Hercules resisted her for a moment, neck stiff, and looked over her head. Iolaus gave him a hopeful look, and Hercules closed his eyes, then bent his head. Iolaus exhaled in relief.
Breaking off the kiss at last, Nebula turned her head to meet Iolaus' eyes and drawled, "I think it's time we showed him what else we learned in the East."
***
Nebula stretched luxuriously, as lazy and content as a cat in the midday sun. "So, I guess that was a first for you boys?" She tried not to make it sound smug, and failed.
Hercules' mouth twitched and he looked at Iolaus, who gave a hiccup of laughter.
"Not really, no," Hercules said gravely. Iolaus laid his head on Hercules' shoulder and lost it completely, giggling like a fool.
She grinned. "Okay, I'll admit it, I'm surprised. Who--?"
"Deianeira," Hercules said, his voice gone soft. "My wife. A long time ago." Iolaus' laughter subsided, and he lifted his head a little to look at Hercules.
"Oh," was all she could think to say. Iolaus turned to her and waggled his eyebrows. She couldn't read all his facial expressions as well as Hercules, not yet, but she was fairly sure that meant, Don't ask.
Nebula stroked Hercules' long hair. It slid like silk between her fingers. "She was a lucky woman," she said softly.
Hercules nodded, his eyes distant, but Iolaus smiled at her, and she leaned over Hercules to kiss him. When she came up for air, Hercules' gaze was on them both, and he was smiling, too.
"You know," she said, "if you boys are interested, my ship still needs a crew."
Hercules propped himself up on an elbow and gave her a look. "Your ship?"
Nebula grinned. Hercules sighed, and her grin widened.
"Just call me Goldenbeard," Iolaus said.
This story is a present for
falzalot, who gave me the setup for it a long time ago and hardly nagged me to finish it at all. And I wish I could smuggle it in to you right now, inside a cake or something, but failing that, I'll post it and email it as well. Here's to you, and I hope you're better soon!Many thanks to
ltlj for beta'ing and letting me use one of her zingers, and to elynross and therienne for beta and encouragement.Title: Sea-change
Summary: Hercules worries, Iolaus comforts, Nebula watches. For a while.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hercules/Iolaus/Nebula
Size: 15 Kb
Sea-change
Hercules stood at the Dolphin's railing, watching the first stars come out in the clear sky. Another three days would get them back to Corinth and thence to King Zolas, provided the weather held. They had done everything they could to get the ship seaworthy, but the repairs wouldn't last through another storm. He sighed, thinking of Cercetes and his men, whom they had buried on the island. At some point Iolaus and he would have to find their families and give them the news. He hated that part.
Iolaus came up to the railing and bumped shoulders with him. "Hey."
"Everything all right?" Hercules asked casually.
Iolaus rubbed his neck and gazed at the rolling waves. "Looks like it, yeah. Of course the mast has to be replaced, and there's not enough spare rope to do a really good job with the rigging..."
Hercules listened patiently as Iolaus catalogued all the ship's remaining defects. He could say, 'That's not what I meant, really,' but Iolaus would only find another way to deflect the question. Yet he had to ask now, while Nebula was at the wheel - he had a feeling Iolaus would rather have his legs chewed off than admit to anything in front of her.
"Nebula said you and Arachne were...getting close, when she found you," he said, interrupting Iolaus mid-gesture.
Iolaus cocked his head and grinned. "Oh, yeah? Did she sound jealous?"
Hercules snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure."
Iolaus eyed him, then dug an elbow into his ribs. "Worried?"
"About what?" Hercules said cautiously, looking down at Iolaus.
Iolaus rolled his eyes. "Oh, I dunno. Me having lots of spider babies while you sleep?"
Hercules considered this idea. "Yuck."
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up for me, too."
Giving up for now, Hercules dropped an arm around Iolaus' shoulders, and they watched the Pleiades come out until Nebula called Hercules up to the upper deck for his shift at the wheel.
***
Nebula had set a course that hugged the mainland shore, and just before moonrise, Hercules steered the ship into a narrow bay overshadowed by rocky cliffs, where they could lie at anchor for the night. They could have kept going if necessary, trading shifts at the wheel, but they hadn't even discussed that option. It had been a long, exhausting day.
While Iolaus let down the anchor at the ship's stern, Hercules climbed down the ladder into the gloomy hold, bending his head to avoid the low beams. He found the lantern hanging from a crossbeam by touch and lit it carefully, then held it up to look around.
Rolled-up hammocks hung toward his left, and the rest of the hold was taken up with Cercetes' cargo, mainly wine, olive oil, and sacks of wheat. The racks of amphorae had withstood the storm, packed in netting and lashed tightly to the beams, but one of the sacks of wheat had burst. He had to step carefully to avoid slipping on the kernels.
Wood creaked as Iolaus set foot upon the ladder. "Did you get our stuff?" he called down.
"Working on it," Hercules called back, taking another careful step toward the corner of the hold where he'd dumped their supplies and bending low to avoid another beam.
"Hey, wonder if this wine is any good," Iolaus said, coming down the ladder. He moved toward the amphorae with easy strides.
"Show-off," Hercules said fondly.
Iolaus had unsealed an amphora and was eyeing it with faint suspicion. "This smells...Yeah. It's that Etruscan stuff that Jason used to drink. Tastes like goat's piss."
"What, you finally met a wine you don't like?" Hercules said, grinning.
"Water it down and see for yourself." Iolaus made a disgusted face. "I'd rather drink seawater."
"No, thanks." Hercules picked up their supplies. "Which hammock are you taking?" He knew from long experience that no hammock on the ship would fit him, but Iolaus didn't have that problem.
Iolaus spared the hammocks a cursory glance. "Nah, I'm going to sleep on deck."
Nebula was sleeping up there, too. Hercules hunted about for a delicate way to ask the next question, then gave up. "Want me to stay below?"
Iolaus raised his eyebrows, looking vaguely annoyed. "What in Tartarus are you talking about?"
Hercules just looked at him.
Iolaus' eyebrows slowly came down. "...Oh. No, come on up." He ran a hand through his hair. "Anyway, it's stuffy down here."
"Right," Hercules said, trying not to sound relieved.
***
Hercules woke with a shudder. He had dreamed he was back in the cave looking for Iolaus, running through an endless maze of rock with Arachne's spiderlings chittering all around him.
It was a relief to see Iolaus asleep right next to him, dimly lit by the waning moon. Nebula was further away, sleeping right next to King Zolas' treasure. Hercules rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to make his heartbeat slow down. Beside him, Iolaus turned over on his back, making stifled sounds, little more than puffs of breath. He had wrapped his blankets tightly about himself, even though it was a warm night and the cliffs sheltered them from the wind, and he seemed to be struggling with them.
"Iolaus?" Hercules said softly. He laid his hand on Iolaus' shoulder.
Only very fast reflexes saved Hercules from a broken nose as Iolaus sat up abruptly, looking wild-eyed. "Wha-"
"Easy, it's me."
Iolaus pushed the blankets off, then ran a hand through his tousled hair and shook his head as if trying to get rid of something.
"Dreaming about Arachne?" Hercules said. Iolaus gave him a narrow-eyed stare, and he added, "I did."
"Hunh." Iolaus scrubbed at his face with his hand and began to arrange his blankets, spreading them out on the deck. Like Hercules, he had stripped down to his breechclout; they had hung their clothes in the rigging to dry. His hair fell forward, hiding his expression, but the muscles in his back were tight with tension.
Hercules watched him with growing worry. Normally, he was the one who fussed over blankets, and Iolaus was the one who yelled at him until he stopped. Yelling probably wouldn't help in this case, though.
"I dreamed I was looking for you," Hercules said, hoping to draw him out. "I was worried I'd be too late." He tried not to flinch as he said it. The dream had been bad, but not nearly as bad as the waking nightmare of looking for Iolaus in a cave full of cocoons and acid-eaten corpses. He was very, very grateful to Nebula for showing up when she had.
"Yeah?" Iolaus said absently. He had smoothed out the last wrinkle in his blankets, but he didn't turn. "I was dreaming about the Minotaur."
That made sense. Horrible sense. Hercules moved closer and clasped his upper arm in sympathy. Iolaus looked at him over his shoulder and grinned wryly. "It's pretty funny, really. When did waking up stuffed in a cocoon become a part of my life?"
Hercules lifted an eyebrow. "Ever since you met me?"
"Yeah, that must be it. I guess that means you owe me."
"But I don't have any money," Hercules said, deadpan.
Iolaus' grin reached his eyes. "Oh, I'll think of something."
***
Nebula watched the interplay between the two men from beneath her lashes, keeping her breathing slow and even. So, Iolaus was uncommunicative, and Hercules was worried. Again. It seemed to be his role in the relationship, or one of them.
Nebula had had to revise her opinion of Hercules and Iolaus several times. She wasn't used to that, and it intrigued her. Hercules had struck her as a typical hero at first, all brawn and bravado, while Iolaus had to be a hanger-on. After all, why would a demigod keep company with a mortal except to make himself look big? A gorilla and his pet chimp, she had called them, to cover for her chagrin at being outmatched. She had expected them to react in anger - nothing betrayed a man's nature more quickly than anger - but instead, they had just traded exasperated looks and helped her up from the ground.
She had not been impressed by the company they were keeping, either. A backstabbing coward like Paxon wouldn't have lasted a week under her command. But that was before she found out that Hercules and Iolaus had only been passengers on Ceretes' ship. Her ship, now, though possibly Hercules hadn't realized it yet.
When Hercules went back for Iolaus after Arachne had taken him, she'd thought him a fool. After being trapped in the caves for weeks on end, trying and failing to keep her own crew alive, she had been certain that Iolaus was dead. It wasn't Hercules' courage that had impressed her, but his desperation. If he was willing to risk that much, then she could do no less. There was something about that man that made the impossible sound reasonable.
And Iolaus...Well. Hercules might be the son of thunder, but Iolaus had the fire. He also had Hercules wound around his little finger, which was impressive in itself, and yet he had made it very clear that that had no bearing on any other partners he might choose.
She smiled to herself, watching the moonlight turn their bodies to silver. The one thing she hadn't changed her opinion on was that they were two very good-looking men.
And, oh, now it was getting interesting. Iolaus had apparently gotten over his snit, or whatever it was, and was looking up at Hercules in a way she recognized. He'd looked at her that way when he was checking out her tattoos. Or pretending that that was what he was doing.
She slipped out of her bedroll. Time to cut herself in for a little slice of the action.
***
Iolaus looked up over Hercules' shoulder to see Nebula stalking toward them. She was dressed only in a thin shift that clung to her every curve. Hercules said something, but he had no idea what it was.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi." She smiled at him, looking like a bronze goddess in the moonlight. No, don't think of goddesses, Iolaus told himself, or one of them will show up and it'll be the thing with the apple all over again. Think of seawater. Very cold seawater.
Hercules sat up, facing Nebula and obstructing Iolaus' view. Iolaus hit his shoulder, but Hercules didn't budge. Ah. Still didn't trust her, then. Oddly enough, Iolaus did, even though he had seen her hold a knife at Hercules' throat that morning. Generally he didn't look kindly upon people who did that, but with Nebula, it was just as likely to be a sign of affection. Plus he had to admire a woman who wore fewer clothes than he did and still managed to stow more knives in them.
"You know what?" Nebula said. She dropped to her knees gracefully, facing them. "I forgot something."
"Well, we're not going back for it," Iolaus said, shoving Hercules until he moved over so he could see Nebula's face. "Not unless you ask nicely," he amended, grinning up at her.
"Not that kind of something," Nebula said. "I forgot to say thank you."
"Well, you saved me from becoming spider food, we'll call it even," Iolaus said.
Nebula's eyes glinted. "Still." She moved in closer and bent towards him. Iolaus closed his eyes. Her lips tasted of salt, and her hair fell forward to tickle at his bare shoulder. He sighed against her mouth, and she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him harder.
The deck creaked to his left, and Iolaus tore himself away with an effort to say, "Herc, wait--"
Hercules picked up his bedroll and glanced at Iolaus, his expression bland. Iolaus glared at him. Damn him for being so noble. Okay, generally he did appreciate Hercules' discretion, but the thought of him sleeping alone in the damp hold, dreaming of spiders, was making his gut clench.
Nebula looked down at him and her lips shaped the words, Don't worry. Then she was on her feet and moving toward Hercules.
"Thank you," she said again, and locked her arms around Hercules' neck to draw him down. Hercules resisted her for a moment, neck stiff, and looked over her head. Iolaus gave him a hopeful look, and Hercules closed his eyes, then bent his head. Iolaus exhaled in relief.
Breaking off the kiss at last, Nebula turned her head to meet Iolaus' eyes and drawled, "I think it's time we showed him what else we learned in the East."
***
Nebula stretched luxuriously, as lazy and content as a cat in the midday sun. "So, I guess that was a first for you boys?" She tried not to make it sound smug, and failed.
Hercules' mouth twitched and he looked at Iolaus, who gave a hiccup of laughter.
"Not really, no," Hercules said gravely. Iolaus laid his head on Hercules' shoulder and lost it completely, giggling like a fool.
She grinned. "Okay, I'll admit it, I'm surprised. Who--?"
"Deianeira," Hercules said, his voice gone soft. "My wife. A long time ago." Iolaus' laughter subsided, and he lifted his head a little to look at Hercules.
"Oh," was all she could think to say. Iolaus turned to her and waggled his eyebrows. She couldn't read all his facial expressions as well as Hercules, not yet, but she was fairly sure that meant, Don't ask.
Nebula stroked Hercules' long hair. It slid like silk between her fingers. "She was a lucky woman," she said softly.
Hercules nodded, his eyes distant, but Iolaus smiled at her, and she leaned over Hercules to kiss him. When she came up for air, Hercules' gaze was on them both, and he was smiling, too.
"You know," she said, "if you boys are interested, my ship still needs a crew."
Hercules propped himself up on an elbow and gave her a look. "Your ship?"
Nebula grinned. Hercules sighed, and her grin widened.
"Just call me Goldenbeard," Iolaus said.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-21 12:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-21 09:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-21 06:10 pm (UTC)I loved the nightmare 'sharing'.
Yet another great job, Mary!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-21 06:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 01:54 am (UTC)And I swear, every time you write these characters, it's like I can hear the characters talking and see the whole thing playing out in my head like an episode. Except the episodes never gave me anything that cool, darnit!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 05:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 04:16 am (UTC)Amorette
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 05:28 pm (UTC)Glad you liked!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 07:47 pm (UTC)Prettige feestdagen!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 07:53 pm (UTC)Happy reading! (Take the one I just posted too, by Deb Arlen, I think you'll like it.)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-03 09:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-03 10:15 pm (UTC)Thoughts are a brewin'....
Date: 2006-01-22 11:53 pm (UTC)Re: Thoughts are a brewin'....
Date: 2006-01-23 06:58 pm (UTC)Write it! Wriiiiiite it. You know you want to. Heck, I want to write it too, that first encounter, but I am terribly slow and in any case, the more the merrier. You can say 'I don't write fanfic' until the day when suddenly, you do. :-)
Re: Thoughts are a brewin'....
Date: 2006-01-24 03:49 am (UTC)The first time between the 3 of them would be fun( and really hot!) to do, but my thoughts were running more along a different line. If ya don't mind, here's where my thoughts have been going....
I found it a bit well, odd, that little Ilea is soooo blond in the third movie and first ep. This story got me thinking..well, what if her father wasn't Hercules and was Iolaus instead? And she was a product of that 3some.. but since DNA testing isn't invented for another couple thousand years and Herc does have some blond in his hair, well, no one really knows who her father really is.
Sooo...the whole story revolves around that whole issue, from well, err conception (it HAS to be in there) and through the years until the first episode of the series. There'd have to be all the issues of all relationships involved and especially how it impacts Iolaus and Herc's. And what about Ania? Is she still alive when this happens and if so, how does she act/react/feel about it? What about Alcmene's reaction to all this? It's all sooo intriguing and weird and *flails*...
Now you see why this has been nagging since I read this??
PS- Sorry if I dumped this on you without asking, I just needed to tell someone about it. Thanks! :)
Re: Thoughts are a brewin'....
Date: 2006-01-25 09:05 am (UTC)This sounds intriguing, and I really think you should write it. It would be so hard, too, on Iolaus, after Ania dies and his own kid(s) die and Herc still has little Ilea. (And her name is so similar to Iolaus'. I wrote a drabble once about Hercules naming his third son after Iolaus, and then discovering that it was a girl. *g*)
You could play with the timeline a lot, because all we know from canon is that at some point, Ania is dead, Iolaus still has a kid or kids, and Ilea is about four. For all we know, Ilea was born after Ania died.
Re: Thoughts are a brewin'....
Date: 2006-01-27 04:08 am (UTC)I have no friggin idea where to start or where it'll go or how bad it'll suck, but I'm going to do it. :)
Your last line.... actually gave me bit of a starting point though. Thanks!! :)
I also hate to impose on you, but since you've written in this fandom before, would you mind terribly if I asked you to beta for me? I'll totally understand if you say no, but I think I could really use the advice of someone else besides my own delusions of grandeur *L* Gracias!
PS- I friended you- hope you don't mind! :)
Re: Thoughts are a brewin'....
Date: 2006-01-27 08:17 pm (UTC)Cool! Hope it goes well, and yes, I'll gladly beta for you. I'd have offered if you hadn't asked. :-)
When you're done, send it to mcvices at gmail dot com, in Word or .rtf, and I'll do my best. Yay new stories!