Fic: Complications
Jun. 22nd, 2008 03:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amedia Title: Complications
Characters: Ambrose, Cain
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Imagiquest Entertainment. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Rating: G
Warnings: Slash
Word Count: 455
Summary: Cain finds that Ambrose has a new hobby
Author's Note: Response to prompt #5 from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
magic4mula: "Watercress ... Whispers ... Want ... Wander."
By the way, I haven't skipped #4; I'm working on a slightly longer story that it inspired!
After a half-hour of searching the palace grounds, Cain found Ambrose in the garden, cheerfully weeding a patch of watercress under the watchful eye of the master gardener. It was a warm sunny day; the garden was filled with the drowsy buzzing of insects and the whispers of distant conversations. Ambrose, his coat off and sleeves rolled up, was kneeling in the dirt, an errant curl plastered to his forehead with sweat.
"So this is where you go when you disappear in the middle of the day?" Cain asked, looking fondly down at his friend. Ten years after the restoration of the Queen - and of his brain - the Queen's advisor still enjoyed a well-earned reputation for eccentricity.
Ambrose grinned up at Cain and nodded. "It's peaceful here," he said. "I can work on just one thing at a time and let my mind wander." Cain dropped down to sit cross-legged on the grass beside him. Ambrose continued working for a few minutes, and then spoke again. "It reminds me of simpler times."
"Before the Sorceress, you mean?" Cain asked.
Ambrose shook his head. "During her reign. When I was a headcase," he said unexpectedly.
"Never thought you'd sound nostalgic about that," Cain said.
"Ah, but then I could wander anywhere I wanted, with no particular concern other than staying alive. There was a certain simplicity about it. No strategy meetings, no grand receptions, no backroom wheeling and dealing. Just me--" he made a sweeping gesture with one arm, "--and the O.Z." He beckoned to the master gardener and pointed to the patch he had finished. She squinted down at it and gave a short nod. Ambrose beamed.
"You're a deep well, Ambrose," said Cain, getting to his feet and extending a hand downward.
"Don't get me wrong," Ambrose said, accepting the hand, and standing up. "I wouldn't trade my life now for anything." Letting go, he rolled his sleeves back down and tried to brush himself off. Cain tried to help, but it seemed he was just moving the dirt and dead grass from one place to another. Ambrose smacked him when Cain tried to brush off the back of his trousers, and they both laughed.
They walked slowly back to the palace, reveling in a last few minutes of sunshine and freedom before returning to duty. "You sure you're happy with the way things are?" Cain asked thoughtfully. "Your life has certainly gotten a lot more complicated."
Ambrose hooked his arm through Cain's as he answered. "But you are one of those complications," he said. "One that I would never want to be without."
"I can't disagree with you there," Cain said. "Come on, sweetheart, let's get you cleaned up."
Characters: Ambrose, Cain
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Imagiquest Entertainment. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Rating: G
Warnings: Slash
Word Count: 455
Summary: Cain finds that Ambrose has a new hobby
Author's Note: Response to prompt #5 from
magic4mula: "Watercress ... Whispers ... Want ... Wander."By the way, I haven't skipped #4; I'm working on a slightly longer story that it inspired!
After a half-hour of searching the palace grounds, Cain found Ambrose in the garden, cheerfully weeding a patch of watercress under the watchful eye of the master gardener. It was a warm sunny day; the garden was filled with the drowsy buzzing of insects and the whispers of distant conversations. Ambrose, his coat off and sleeves rolled up, was kneeling in the dirt, an errant curl plastered to his forehead with sweat.
"So this is where you go when you disappear in the middle of the day?" Cain asked, looking fondly down at his friend. Ten years after the restoration of the Queen - and of his brain - the Queen's advisor still enjoyed a well-earned reputation for eccentricity.
Ambrose grinned up at Cain and nodded. "It's peaceful here," he said. "I can work on just one thing at a time and let my mind wander." Cain dropped down to sit cross-legged on the grass beside him. Ambrose continued working for a few minutes, and then spoke again. "It reminds me of simpler times."
"Before the Sorceress, you mean?" Cain asked.
Ambrose shook his head. "During her reign. When I was a headcase," he said unexpectedly.
"Never thought you'd sound nostalgic about that," Cain said.
"Ah, but then I could wander anywhere I wanted, with no particular concern other than staying alive. There was a certain simplicity about it. No strategy meetings, no grand receptions, no backroom wheeling and dealing. Just me--" he made a sweeping gesture with one arm, "--and the O.Z." He beckoned to the master gardener and pointed to the patch he had finished. She squinted down at it and gave a short nod. Ambrose beamed.
"You're a deep well, Ambrose," said Cain, getting to his feet and extending a hand downward.
"Don't get me wrong," Ambrose said, accepting the hand, and standing up. "I wouldn't trade my life now for anything." Letting go, he rolled his sleeves back down and tried to brush himself off. Cain tried to help, but it seemed he was just moving the dirt and dead grass from one place to another. Ambrose smacked him when Cain tried to brush off the back of his trousers, and they both laughed.
They walked slowly back to the palace, reveling in a last few minutes of sunshine and freedom before returning to duty. "You sure you're happy with the way things are?" Cain asked thoughtfully. "Your life has certainly gotten a lot more complicated."
Ambrose hooked his arm through Cain's as he answered. "But you are one of those complications," he said. "One that I would never want to be without."
"I can't disagree with you there," Cain said. "Come on, sweetheart, let's get you cleaned up."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 09:02 pm (UTC)I especially liked this line:
Just me--" he made a sweeping gesture with one arm, "--and the O.Z."
no subject
Date: 2008-06-23 03:28 am (UTC)an errant curl plastered to his forehead
♥
no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:32 am (UTC)I especially liked this line:
Just me--" he made a sweeping gesture with one arm, "--and the O.Z."
Oh, thank you!!!! I almost left it out because I wasn't sure it conveyed what I saw in my head, if that makes sense. But I felt that it needed to be there.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 02:38 am (UTC)^^ I did mean overprotective of the garden! Ambrose having to prove his weeding was up to standards and all! I could picture her starting him out with something hardy until he earns his way up. :D
Magical rototillers - now there is a scary thought!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 02:45 am (UTC)I could picture her starting him out with something hardy until he earns his way up. :D
LOL! And being totally unintimidated by his status at court, which he would find refreshing.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 09:13 pm (UTC)Of course, I love Cain being one of his complications that make his more complex life worthwhile.
Great as always :D
no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:33 am (UTC)That's *just* what I was going for! Thank you!!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 09:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 10:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 11:20 pm (UTC)SO very pretty! This story has so much involved in a short space, it's a real talent to be able to do that. The way Ambrose almost, but not quite, longs for the simplicity of Glitch but is completely content with his current life because he has Cain. I just adore how Cain just automatically starts helping Ambrose brush off. Their easy familiarity and obvious affection is so intimate and perfect, I love it!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:34 am (UTC)Oh, I'm so glad you picked up on that! Thanks for the wonderful feedback!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-23 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-11 04:17 pm (UTC)Thank you for a wonderful story. (found through surrandie!)
no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 10:10 pm (UTC)