ext_20824 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
insaneladybug.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
31_days2015-03-19 05:28 pm
insaneladybug.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2015-03-19 05:28 pm
[March 19th] [The Man From U.N.C.L.E.] The Shackles of Marriage
Title: The Shackles of Marriage
Day/Theme: March 19th - Don't take but a queen to make that kingdom come
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye
Rating: K/G
By Lucky_Ladybug
Ecks was somewhat surprised when he emerged from the motel room’s bathroom in the morning to find Wye flipping through the television channels and pausing at reruns of old series. Ecks came closer, watching while he ran a towel through his wet hair. Wye was studying a scene where the main couple on Leave It To Beaver or Ozzie and Harriett or possibly Make Room For Daddy—the shows were all alike to Ecks, really; he couldn’t remember which was which—were being affectionate with each other. Wye found it hilarious.
“I know that series is a comedy, but that scene really wasn’t meant to be funny,” Ecks remarked as he stepped forward, making his presence known.
“It is anyway,” Wye snickered. “As if marriage is really like that.”
“Some of them probably are,” Ecks defended.
“Oh, what do you know of it?” Wye retorted, setting the remote aside.
“What do you?” Ecks shot back. “My parents seemed to love each other.”
“Seemed being the keyword,” Wye said. “As for your information, I tried the whole marriage thing some time back. It wasn’t nearly all it’s cracked up to be.”
Ecks stared at him in stunned surprise. “You were married?!” he exclaimed. He sat down on a chair, still drying his hair.
“It’s not that gobsmacking, is it?” Wye grunted. “People do that sort of thing a lot.”
“Yes, but you . . . just don’t seem the marrying type,” Ecks finished, somewhat helplessly.
Wye laughed. “Oh, that’s a good one. You’re right, Ecks, but let’s see if you can guess why I’m not the marrying type.”
Ecks frowned. “I would assume because of whatever went wrong.”
“Naturally.” Wye leaned back, looking thoughtful. “When I married her, I loved her and I thought she felt the same. I wouldn’t have gone through with it if I hadn’t. I also thought my friend was really my friend.”
Ecks paused, the towel half on his head. “You mean . . .”
Wye nodded. “Ran off together. The both of them. And you know, that was after she acted affectionate with me like those two were on the telly just now. It’s all just superficial.”
Ecks blinked. “Surely you’re not saying you think any show of affection is fake.”
“No, of course not. I’m only saying that a lot of the times it is. It’s no guarantee that everything is going to be smooth sailing.”
“. . . That’s terrible that they were both so unfaithful.” Anger slipped into Ecks’ voice now. “I don’t imagine you let that stand.”
“I gave them a little taste of my brand of revenge,” Wye said. “They left London to get away from me.” He chuckled.
“Do you know where they went?” Ecks asked.
“No, and I never cared to know. I just hope we haven’t plunged right into their stomping grounds.”
“I hope not, either.” Ecks resumed rubbing the towel through his hair. “But what will you do if we have?”
“Probably nothing, unless they give me reason to do otherwise.” Wye turned to look at him. “And don’t you go gettin’ any ideas. I don’t want you tanglin’ with him.”
“He’s that tough?”
Wye fell silent. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “They acted like they just wanted to live in peace, really, but if they were to know that you’re important to me, they might decide to do something about it. He’s strong enough that he could easily break a man in two, if he wanted.”
“Pleasant,” Ecks grunted.
“Promise me you’ll leave them alone,” Wye persisted. “It’s bad enough that you’re going chasing after Kuryakin. I don’t want to have to worry about you doing something else potentially dangerous as well.”
“You won’t,” Ecks replied. “After all, how can I when I don’t even know their names or what they look like?”
“Bah! So you would if not for that, then.”
“I can’t say what I would do,” Ecks said honestly. “I instantly abhor them both for turning on you. Taking revenge isn’t typically my style, but with the likes of them it would be a pleasure.”
“I can imagine. And while I can appreciate you being so gallant for my sake, there’s really no need.” Wye laid a hand on Ecks’ shoulder. “I want you alive and well more than anything else. Don’t jeopardize that.”
“I won’t,” Ecks said, and fully meant it. But he hesitated.
“What is it?” Wye asked.
“Did you . . . really love them?” Ecks wondered. “Even after what they did?”
“You can’t switch love off and on like a ruddy light switch,” Wye retorted. “But finding they’ve betrayed you sure makes it come close. I don’t care about them now, but back then . . . I still did.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Ecks said quietly. “You were trying to live a normal life. You didn’t deserve it.”
“It means a lot that you’d say that,” Wye said. “Just make sure that you’ll never turn against me and everything will be just fine.”
“I’ll never betray you,” Ecks frowned. “You know that.”
“I thought I knew that they wouldn’t,” Wye pointed out. He finally gave a fond smile. “But I do know that you won’t, Duck.”
Ecks smiled too. “Good.” He glanced back to the television. “So you never plan on getting married again?”
“Would you?” Wye shrugged. “I found other things to occupy my time and interest.”
“Maybe you’ll find a genuinely nice girl sometime,” Ecks said.
“Maybe, but I’m not holdin’ my breath.” Wye looked to Ecks. “But don’t let my bad experience stop you, if you ever want to try it.”
“I won’t.” Ecks’ attention drifted back to the television again as one of the show’s children appeared. “Did you have any kids?”
“If we did, she didn’t bother to tell me they were mine,” Wye grunted. “Probably for the best either way. Can you imagine me as a father?”
“I don’t think you’d do too badly,” Ecks said in all sincerity. “Oh sure, they’d be a little unorthodox, but conventionalism is dull.”
Wye cackled. “I’ve taught you too well.”
“You have,” Ecks said, “and I love it.”
“Well . . .” Wye looked back to the screen disdainfully. The woman was reading from a magazine about how a man needed a woman to feel fulfilled in life. Rolling his eyes, Wye reached for the remote to snap off the television. “In any case, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t need any bloomin’ woman to come in and rule over my life. And if you’re not interested in that right now either, Ecks, we’ll just be bachelors together.”
“The kings of our own castle,” Ecks grinned.
“Which hopefully won’t always be a motel room,” Wye muttered.
Day/Theme: March 19th - Don't take but a queen to make that kingdom come
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye
Rating: K/G
Ecks was somewhat surprised when he emerged from the motel room’s bathroom in the morning to find Wye flipping through the television channels and pausing at reruns of old series. Ecks came closer, watching while he ran a towel through his wet hair. Wye was studying a scene where the main couple on Leave It To Beaver or Ozzie and Harriett or possibly Make Room For Daddy—the shows were all alike to Ecks, really; he couldn’t remember which was which—were being affectionate with each other. Wye found it hilarious.
“I know that series is a comedy, but that scene really wasn’t meant to be funny,” Ecks remarked as he stepped forward, making his presence known.
“It is anyway,” Wye snickered. “As if marriage is really like that.”
“Some of them probably are,” Ecks defended.
“Oh, what do you know of it?” Wye retorted, setting the remote aside.
“What do you?” Ecks shot back. “My parents seemed to love each other.”
“Seemed being the keyword,” Wye said. “As for your information, I tried the whole marriage thing some time back. It wasn’t nearly all it’s cracked up to be.”
Ecks stared at him in stunned surprise. “You were married?!” he exclaimed. He sat down on a chair, still drying his hair.
“It’s not that gobsmacking, is it?” Wye grunted. “People do that sort of thing a lot.”
“Yes, but you . . . just don’t seem the marrying type,” Ecks finished, somewhat helplessly.
Wye laughed. “Oh, that’s a good one. You’re right, Ecks, but let’s see if you can guess why I’m not the marrying type.”
Ecks frowned. “I would assume because of whatever went wrong.”
“Naturally.” Wye leaned back, looking thoughtful. “When I married her, I loved her and I thought she felt the same. I wouldn’t have gone through with it if I hadn’t. I also thought my friend was really my friend.”
Ecks paused, the towel half on his head. “You mean . . .”
Wye nodded. “Ran off together. The both of them. And you know, that was after she acted affectionate with me like those two were on the telly just now. It’s all just superficial.”
Ecks blinked. “Surely you’re not saying you think any show of affection is fake.”
“No, of course not. I’m only saying that a lot of the times it is. It’s no guarantee that everything is going to be smooth sailing.”
“. . . That’s terrible that they were both so unfaithful.” Anger slipped into Ecks’ voice now. “I don’t imagine you let that stand.”
“I gave them a little taste of my brand of revenge,” Wye said. “They left London to get away from me.” He chuckled.
“Do you know where they went?” Ecks asked.
“No, and I never cared to know. I just hope we haven’t plunged right into their stomping grounds.”
“I hope not, either.” Ecks resumed rubbing the towel through his hair. “But what will you do if we have?”
“Probably nothing, unless they give me reason to do otherwise.” Wye turned to look at him. “And don’t you go gettin’ any ideas. I don’t want you tanglin’ with him.”
“He’s that tough?”
Wye fell silent. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “They acted like they just wanted to live in peace, really, but if they were to know that you’re important to me, they might decide to do something about it. He’s strong enough that he could easily break a man in two, if he wanted.”
“Pleasant,” Ecks grunted.
“Promise me you’ll leave them alone,” Wye persisted. “It’s bad enough that you’re going chasing after Kuryakin. I don’t want to have to worry about you doing something else potentially dangerous as well.”
“You won’t,” Ecks replied. “After all, how can I when I don’t even know their names or what they look like?”
“Bah! So you would if not for that, then.”
“I can’t say what I would do,” Ecks said honestly. “I instantly abhor them both for turning on you. Taking revenge isn’t typically my style, but with the likes of them it would be a pleasure.”
“I can imagine. And while I can appreciate you being so gallant for my sake, there’s really no need.” Wye laid a hand on Ecks’ shoulder. “I want you alive and well more than anything else. Don’t jeopardize that.”
“I won’t,” Ecks said, and fully meant it. But he hesitated.
“What is it?” Wye asked.
“Did you . . . really love them?” Ecks wondered. “Even after what they did?”
“You can’t switch love off and on like a ruddy light switch,” Wye retorted. “But finding they’ve betrayed you sure makes it come close. I don’t care about them now, but back then . . . I still did.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Ecks said quietly. “You were trying to live a normal life. You didn’t deserve it.”
“It means a lot that you’d say that,” Wye said. “Just make sure that you’ll never turn against me and everything will be just fine.”
“I’ll never betray you,” Ecks frowned. “You know that.”
“I thought I knew that they wouldn’t,” Wye pointed out. He finally gave a fond smile. “But I do know that you won’t, Duck.”
Ecks smiled too. “Good.” He glanced back to the television. “So you never plan on getting married again?”
“Would you?” Wye shrugged. “I found other things to occupy my time and interest.”
“Maybe you’ll find a genuinely nice girl sometime,” Ecks said.
“Maybe, but I’m not holdin’ my breath.” Wye looked to Ecks. “But don’t let my bad experience stop you, if you ever want to try it.”
“I won’t.” Ecks’ attention drifted back to the television again as one of the show’s children appeared. “Did you have any kids?”
“If we did, she didn’t bother to tell me they were mine,” Wye grunted. “Probably for the best either way. Can you imagine me as a father?”
“I don’t think you’d do too badly,” Ecks said in all sincerity. “Oh sure, they’d be a little unorthodox, but conventionalism is dull.”
Wye cackled. “I’ve taught you too well.”
“You have,” Ecks said, “and I love it.”
“Well . . .” Wye looked back to the screen disdainfully. The woman was reading from a magazine about how a man needed a woman to feel fulfilled in life. Rolling his eyes, Wye reached for the remote to snap off the television. “In any case, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t need any bloomin’ woman to come in and rule over my life. And if you’re not interested in that right now either, Ecks, we’ll just be bachelors together.”
“The kings of our own castle,” Ecks grinned.
“Which hopefully won’t always be a motel room,” Wye muttered.