Fic: The House on Merton Lane
Sep. 4th, 2006 08:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frahulettaesAuthor: fra
In the Porcelain and Bittersweet 'Verse.
This falls after the Porcelain and Bittersweet.
Summary: How long can you keep a house in London without being noticed?
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Het
Lotrips/rps/Seriously AU.
Other stories in this verse:
Porcelain and Bittersweet - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/2759.html#cutid1
Everens - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3050.html#cutid1
Redress - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3337.html#cutid1
The Wailing Wind - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3593.html#cutid1
Somewhat South of Normal - http://wede-fic.livejournal.com/4106.html#cutid1
London Pastoral - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3955.html#cutid1
fra
2006
On the fifth of March, Cate took a wrong turn coming home from the Heath with Matches and Took and stumbled on a crook in Merton Lane where number two sat. Matches, the braver of the two collies ran ahead sniffing the gates avidly while Took stopped with Cate, who put her hand on the fence and looked at the huge old edifice.
She swung her bag off her shoulder and dug into the gaping mouth for her camera, touched the outer case and withdrew the sleek silver body as she looked back up at the arching upper windows under the steeply gabled roof, lifted the camera to her eye and pressed the shutter.
~~~~~~~~~
"Come along you lot…" Cate urged the dogs in through the open front door and smiled as they clattered down the hall. She closed the door, hung up her coat and dropped her bag on the entry table to dig out her camera.
"Welcome home." The words came drifting from the kitchen. "Sorry I missed your walk. I'd've liked to get out today." Marton came to the kitchen door, mug in hand, smiling.
"The Heath was lovely. Match almost had that rabbit. Or so he thought." She walked into the man's embrace and they kissed softly. "I found a lovely old house."
"Did you? It must be something, you've got your camera out." He stepped around her so he could see the digital view screen over her shoulder, took a moment to tuck a stray red tress behind her ear and slid his hand around her waist.
"Oh, it is. It's lovely, Marton, I can't wait to show you. Look," and she held the view screen up.
"Mmmmm. Yes. It's a lovely heap of stone. Where ever did you find such a broken down old ruin?" He rumbled.
"Lout." She said affectionately and elbowed him in the belly. He made a soft whuff and his arm tightened.
They both looked at photo after photo and were quiet for the span of a good solid minute.
"Number two, Merton Lane." Cate finally murmured.
"Oh? I didn't know Merton Lane had a number two. I thought it started at fifteen. Where it crosses the Kings Road." He looked at the photo more intently. "Let's get these downloaded." he said, absently as he walked away from her.
"Right." she answered and followed him down the hall to their office.
Marton was across the partner desk, punching keys on this computer while Cate plugged the camera into the jack and began to download the images to her hard drive.
"Mmmm. As I thought, Merton lane, according to this map, dated May of 2002, starts on the Kings Road at number fifteen." He pushed a few keys and the printer began to whir , the printed paper edging out in sharp little jerks.
Cate raised an eyebrow, her look a question.
"But I was there, today." She rose from her chair and walked around the large desk to his side. He handed her the map and pointed out the cross street he was speaking of.
"Just here, see?" His fingernail rested just below the juncture.
"Yes. I do." She took the paper and looked at it intently. "Marton?"
"Mmmm?"
"What is that?" she pointed to the short green line leading up to the opposite side of the intersection. "If that line were black," she mused. "wouldn't it be a street?"
Marton was looking closely at the map. "Yes, I suppose it would be." He turned back to his monitor and keyboard. "Let's look at a map that's a bit older, shall we?" He said tapping away.
"Yes, lets." Cate smiled.
~~~~~~~~~
"A Mews." Marton said, walking through from the kitchen.
She was engrossed in a map and didn't look up. "A what, darling?"
"A Mews. On Merton Lane. As in, the old stables, turned housing turned un-mapped lane." Marton rolled his chair next to her and sat down. The paper in his hand was old, like skin, and the color of tea. She caressed the edge with her fingertips then rested them on his hand.
"How odd." She murmured.
He looked at her bent head, the soft turn of her cheek. "Why odd? Mews are quite common to old houses."
She looked up. "No, I know. Yes. It's just that this particular house is so…lost. It's as though time has passed it by. Where are the shops on the corner or the other houses or flats near by? This house has none of that. It's sitting on prime property, right off the Heath and yet there's nothing around it. Look," she pointed to the map she'd been working on.
"See here? That's the old carriage house. Now, look at these." She shuffled the maps and brought another tea colored sheet to the top. "these houses are also of that size, on different parts of the Heath and their carriage houses are gone, or converted. And so are their mews houses. So, why not this one?" She looked up at him, eyes cornflower blue, full of questions.
"I don't know, Catie-bird." He said.
~~~~~~~~~
"Cate!" Marton closed the door on the cold shifting winds and petted Match on the head as he unwound his scarf. "Catie!" he called again, louder. Match cocked his head. "Where is that girl, eh, Matches? And where's Took?" He walked down the hall, Match on his heels.
"Cate?" He put the kettle on in the kitchen and went into the office, clicked on his computer and flipped through the mail. He dropped the pile of envelopes and looked across the desk, at Cate's empty chair lit blue by the dull light of her monitor, at the door to the garden, slightly ajar.
He found her note taped crookedly to the center of her monitor.
Gone to Merton Lane. Back soon.
~~~~~~~~~~
He could tell by her breathing that she wasn't sleeping. He rolled toward her, molding himself along her slim back and nuzzled her neck.
"You're awake." He whispered against her skin. She smelled like apple blossoms.
"Mmmm. So it would seem." She shifted her hips, rocked them deeper in the fold of his body, pressed against him. "I went by Merton Lane today." She whispered.
He stilled. Waiting. "And?"
"There was someone there. A man. Looking from the window." Her voice was soft and clear. Unafraid.
"Cate." He began.
"I know. I shouldn't've gone round again. Not so soon. He'll think I'm stalking him."
He smiled and pressed his lips to her shoulder. "Well, he'll be happy to learn you're only stalking his house."
She burbled a small laugh. "Yes. Well. Not that knowing that would reassure him." She sighed. " I'd love to go inside."
"Have you heard from the registry?" He asked.
"Mmm, no. It's taking them forever." She slid her hand over his and drew it over her belly, pressing his palm to her breast.
He made love to her slowly. In his quiet way. And afterwards, as he slept, she looked out the window at the night sky, thinking about Merton Lane and the man in the window.
~~~~~~~~~~
"The lady with the dogs was back today." Eric said, casually.
Viggo looked up from his book and arched an eyebrow. "That's twice this week." He thought for a moment. "What does our friend in the registry say?"
Eric swirled the brandy in his glass and sniffed its aroma. "That she's harmless. A scholar with a penchant for old houses."
Viggo thought quietly for a while. "Do we know her name?"
"Cate." Eric said, quietly. "Cate Blanchett"
tbc
In the Porcelain and Bittersweet 'Verse.
This falls after the Porcelain and Bittersweet.
Summary: How long can you keep a house in London without being noticed?
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Het
Lotrips/rps/Seriously AU.
Other stories in this verse:
Porcelain and Bittersweet - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/2759.html#cutid1
Everens - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3050.html#cutid1
Redress - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3337.html#cutid1
The Wailing Wind - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3593.html#cutid1
Somewhat South of Normal - http://wede-fic.livejournal.com/4106.html#cutid1
London Pastoral - http://fra-fiction.livejournal.com/3955.html#cutid1
fra
2006
On the fifth of March, Cate took a wrong turn coming home from the Heath with Matches and Took and stumbled on a crook in Merton Lane where number two sat. Matches, the braver of the two collies ran ahead sniffing the gates avidly while Took stopped with Cate, who put her hand on the fence and looked at the huge old edifice.
She swung her bag off her shoulder and dug into the gaping mouth for her camera, touched the outer case and withdrew the sleek silver body as she looked back up at the arching upper windows under the steeply gabled roof, lifted the camera to her eye and pressed the shutter.
~~~~~~~~~
"Come along you lot…" Cate urged the dogs in through the open front door and smiled as they clattered down the hall. She closed the door, hung up her coat and dropped her bag on the entry table to dig out her camera.
"Welcome home." The words came drifting from the kitchen. "Sorry I missed your walk. I'd've liked to get out today." Marton came to the kitchen door, mug in hand, smiling.
"The Heath was lovely. Match almost had that rabbit. Or so he thought." She walked into the man's embrace and they kissed softly. "I found a lovely old house."
"Did you? It must be something, you've got your camera out." He stepped around her so he could see the digital view screen over her shoulder, took a moment to tuck a stray red tress behind her ear and slid his hand around her waist.
"Oh, it is. It's lovely, Marton, I can't wait to show you. Look," and she held the view screen up.
"Mmmmm. Yes. It's a lovely heap of stone. Where ever did you find such a broken down old ruin?" He rumbled.
"Lout." She said affectionately and elbowed him in the belly. He made a soft whuff and his arm tightened.
They both looked at photo after photo and were quiet for the span of a good solid minute.
"Number two, Merton Lane." Cate finally murmured.
"Oh? I didn't know Merton Lane had a number two. I thought it started at fifteen. Where it crosses the Kings Road." He looked at the photo more intently. "Let's get these downloaded." he said, absently as he walked away from her.
"Right." she answered and followed him down the hall to their office.
Marton was across the partner desk, punching keys on this computer while Cate plugged the camera into the jack and began to download the images to her hard drive.
"Mmmm. As I thought, Merton lane, according to this map, dated May of 2002, starts on the Kings Road at number fifteen." He pushed a few keys and the printer began to whir , the printed paper edging out in sharp little jerks.
Cate raised an eyebrow, her look a question.
"But I was there, today." She rose from her chair and walked around the large desk to his side. He handed her the map and pointed out the cross street he was speaking of.
"Just here, see?" His fingernail rested just below the juncture.
"Yes. I do." She took the paper and looked at it intently. "Marton?"
"Mmmm?"
"What is that?" she pointed to the short green line leading up to the opposite side of the intersection. "If that line were black," she mused. "wouldn't it be a street?"
Marton was looking closely at the map. "Yes, I suppose it would be." He turned back to his monitor and keyboard. "Let's look at a map that's a bit older, shall we?" He said tapping away.
"Yes, lets." Cate smiled.
~~~~~~~~~
"A Mews." Marton said, walking through from the kitchen.
She was engrossed in a map and didn't look up. "A what, darling?"
"A Mews. On Merton Lane. As in, the old stables, turned housing turned un-mapped lane." Marton rolled his chair next to her and sat down. The paper in his hand was old, like skin, and the color of tea. She caressed the edge with her fingertips then rested them on his hand.
"How odd." She murmured.
He looked at her bent head, the soft turn of her cheek. "Why odd? Mews are quite common to old houses."
She looked up. "No, I know. Yes. It's just that this particular house is so…lost. It's as though time has passed it by. Where are the shops on the corner or the other houses or flats near by? This house has none of that. It's sitting on prime property, right off the Heath and yet there's nothing around it. Look," she pointed to the map she'd been working on.
"See here? That's the old carriage house. Now, look at these." She shuffled the maps and brought another tea colored sheet to the top. "these houses are also of that size, on different parts of the Heath and their carriage houses are gone, or converted. And so are their mews houses. So, why not this one?" She looked up at him, eyes cornflower blue, full of questions.
"I don't know, Catie-bird." He said.
~~~~~~~~~
"Cate!" Marton closed the door on the cold shifting winds and petted Match on the head as he unwound his scarf. "Catie!" he called again, louder. Match cocked his head. "Where is that girl, eh, Matches? And where's Took?" He walked down the hall, Match on his heels.
"Cate?" He put the kettle on in the kitchen and went into the office, clicked on his computer and flipped through the mail. He dropped the pile of envelopes and looked across the desk, at Cate's empty chair lit blue by the dull light of her monitor, at the door to the garden, slightly ajar.
He found her note taped crookedly to the center of her monitor.
Gone to Merton Lane. Back soon.
~~~~~~~~~~
He could tell by her breathing that she wasn't sleeping. He rolled toward her, molding himself along her slim back and nuzzled her neck.
"You're awake." He whispered against her skin. She smelled like apple blossoms.
"Mmmm. So it would seem." She shifted her hips, rocked them deeper in the fold of his body, pressed against him. "I went by Merton Lane today." She whispered.
He stilled. Waiting. "And?"
"There was someone there. A man. Looking from the window." Her voice was soft and clear. Unafraid.
"Cate." He began.
"I know. I shouldn't've gone round again. Not so soon. He'll think I'm stalking him."
He smiled and pressed his lips to her shoulder. "Well, he'll be happy to learn you're only stalking his house."
She burbled a small laugh. "Yes. Well. Not that knowing that would reassure him." She sighed. " I'd love to go inside."
"Have you heard from the registry?" He asked.
"Mmm, no. It's taking them forever." She slid her hand over his and drew it over her belly, pressing his palm to her breast.
He made love to her slowly. In his quiet way. And afterwards, as he slept, she looked out the window at the night sky, thinking about Merton Lane and the man in the window.
~~~~~~~~~~
"The lady with the dogs was back today." Eric said, casually.
Viggo looked up from his book and arched an eyebrow. "That's twice this week." He thought for a moment. "What does our friend in the registry say?"
Eric swirled the brandy in his glass and sniffed its aroma. "That she's harmless. A scholar with a penchant for old houses."
Viggo thought quietly for a while. "Do we know her name?"
"Cate." Eric said, quietly. "Cate Blanchett"
tbc
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no subject
Date: 2006-09-05 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-05 04:31 am (UTC)stay tuned. ;)
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Date: 2006-09-05 06:30 am (UTC)*loves*
no subject
Date: 2006-09-05 12:55 pm (UTC)though I hope there will still be more possesively hot vampire sex on the horizon.
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Date: 2006-09-07 01:57 pm (UTC);)
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Date: 2006-09-07 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-07 08:21 am (UTC)Really nice update, I can't wait for the next one :D
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Date: 2006-09-07 01:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-06 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-24 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-18 11:12 pm (UTC)This continues excellent. Even the addition of werewolves was handled well. Yay!
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Date: 2006-11-24 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-10 10:53 pm (UTC)Thank you for sharing! =)
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Date: 2007-02-11 03:15 am (UTC)fra
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Date: 2007-04-11 10:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-11 05:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-15 07:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-09 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-09 08:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-13 08:25 pm (UTC);) wede
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Date: 2008-03-13 02:55 am (UTC)Oh yes, yes, yes. People are definitely still reading! It may have taken me a while, but now that I have found you, I am reading it all. Thanks go our good friend
There are far too many moments that wow me in this series and in your writing, that make me marvel at your characterizations. So succinct. Case in point: "Elijah was just fucked up enough that sleeping with Orlando was a thrill." That pretty well sums him up. I love that Viggo has to resort to a little tough love at times within his family of odds and ends in order to keep the dysfunction in line, that he protects them against against interlopers, that there are those whose loyalty gives him strength.
I'm catching up with your posts and will comment again elsewhere, but this universe has been very special. Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-22 07:01 pm (UTC)