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31_days2011-01-12 06:16 pm
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2011-01-12 06:16 pm
[Jan. 12] [Original] "Strangers" on a Train
Title: "Strangers" on a Train
Day/Theme: Jan. 12, 2011 "Anonymous men catching a ride into the future"
Series: Original (Navigator)
Character/Pairing: Julian & Stuart
Rating: G
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Julian Jet looked up from his tablet. He had been using his stylus to try and fill in the daily crossword of his preferred newspaper until he'd gotten stuck and had moved on to doodling idly on the comics. "No," he hesitated, "It's not..." He wanted to turn the newcomer away- there were other empty seats on the train- but as much as he enjoyed his solitude, he didn't like to be out and out rude.
"Julian," the man said. His voice was warm, but firm.
The doctor looked up at him then. How had he been as oblivious as to not realize the identity of this fellow traveler sooner? He was probably just lucky now that Stuart was only smiling, not holding back laughter. Would it look more idiotic to acknowledge his error now or to play it through and act like he had been aware it was Stuart all along?
He took a deep breath. "How funny that you would guess my name, stranger. Well, the seat is free and I'd be happy to have some company. This is going to be a long ride yet, if you're going all the way to the capital, like I am."
Now Stuart had to work hard to keep his merriment inside. Julian's game was clearly cracking him up. It was so un-Julian to spontaneously start something like this. "Th-thank you very much, sir. Guessing names is," an awkward giggle escaped between his words despite his efforts to choke it down, "Something of a skill of mine."
Stuart sat down and watched, bemused, as Julian resumed his efforts on the crossword puzzle (he probably didn't want to be seen altering the comic strips). He took the book he had brought along for the ride out of his bag and began to casually read a bit of it, but his eyes kept skipping over the words back to Julian's face.
The thing that made it so horribly funny was that, every so often, when he hoped Stuart would not be looking, Julian did the same thing. He knew Stuart was sneaking peeks at him and Stuart probably knew he was playing the same game, but as long as their eyes didn't meet, it didn't matter.
Inevitably they did (there was no helping it after a certain amount of time had passed- they were probably both secretly wanting it to happen). Stuart burst into a flurry of laughter. Julian's mirth was considerably more subdued, but he couldn't help but be amused too. "I wondered how long you'd manage that!" Stuart chuckled.
"Well, you know better than anyone that I wasn't treating you like a stranger," Julian shrugged.
"Indeed! You know, you're developing quite a sense of humor these days." Stuart closed his book- he couldn't read now and didn't need to use it as cover any longer. "It's rather becoming on you."
"Ah, thank you. But now you've gone and left me all self-conscious again," the doctor sighed and shook his head. "It's better not to say anything about it, Stuart."
"I always open my big mouth," his friend agreed.
Day/Theme: Jan. 12, 2011 "Anonymous men catching a ride into the future"
Series: Original (Navigator)
Character/Pairing: Julian & Stuart
Rating: G
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Julian Jet looked up from his tablet. He had been using his stylus to try and fill in the daily crossword of his preferred newspaper until he'd gotten stuck and had moved on to doodling idly on the comics. "No," he hesitated, "It's not..." He wanted to turn the newcomer away- there were other empty seats on the train- but as much as he enjoyed his solitude, he didn't like to be out and out rude.
"Julian," the man said. His voice was warm, but firm.
The doctor looked up at him then. How had he been as oblivious as to not realize the identity of this fellow traveler sooner? He was probably just lucky now that Stuart was only smiling, not holding back laughter. Would it look more idiotic to acknowledge his error now or to play it through and act like he had been aware it was Stuart all along?
He took a deep breath. "How funny that you would guess my name, stranger. Well, the seat is free and I'd be happy to have some company. This is going to be a long ride yet, if you're going all the way to the capital, like I am."
Now Stuart had to work hard to keep his merriment inside. Julian's game was clearly cracking him up. It was so un-Julian to spontaneously start something like this. "Th-thank you very much, sir. Guessing names is," an awkward giggle escaped between his words despite his efforts to choke it down, "Something of a skill of mine."
Stuart sat down and watched, bemused, as Julian resumed his efforts on the crossword puzzle (he probably didn't want to be seen altering the comic strips). He took the book he had brought along for the ride out of his bag and began to casually read a bit of it, but his eyes kept skipping over the words back to Julian's face.
The thing that made it so horribly funny was that, every so often, when he hoped Stuart would not be looking, Julian did the same thing. He knew Stuart was sneaking peeks at him and Stuart probably knew he was playing the same game, but as long as their eyes didn't meet, it didn't matter.
Inevitably they did (there was no helping it after a certain amount of time had passed- they were probably both secretly wanting it to happen). Stuart burst into a flurry of laughter. Julian's mirth was considerably more subdued, but he couldn't help but be amused too. "I wondered how long you'd manage that!" Stuart chuckled.
"Well, you know better than anyone that I wasn't treating you like a stranger," Julian shrugged.
"Indeed! You know, you're developing quite a sense of humor these days." Stuart closed his book- he couldn't read now and didn't need to use it as cover any longer. "It's rather becoming on you."
"Ah, thank you. But now you've gone and left me all self-conscious again," the doctor sighed and shook his head. "It's better not to say anything about it, Stuart."
"I always open my big mouth," his friend agreed.