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amediaStory title: Dinner out
Author: Amedia
Rating: G
Characters: Arthur Dietrich, Ron Harris
Ship: Harris/Dietrich (slashy, rather than outright slash)
Summary: Harris gives Dietrich a birthday present.
Word Count: 327
Author's note: Prompt fill fordorinda, who requested the fandom Barney Miller, pairing Dietrich/Harris, with the prompts "(pick your fave!): neckties, uptown, silver." I wound up using them all. :-)
There was nothing at all special about the invitation.
"Hey, Arthur."
"Hmm?"
"Wanna grab dinner tonight?"
"Sure."
After all, no one knew it was his birthday, least of all Harris.
The day went by like any other bland, ordinary day at the 12th. Two muggers wearing shark costumes who never actually succeeded because they kept humming the "Jaws" theme while they stalked their victims. A complaint between neighbors concerning the ownership of a bootleg laserdisc, which suddenly turned into each one saying it wasn't theirs to avoid arrest. And a wannabe holdup man, dragged in by Luger; the unfortunate criminal had made the mistake of threatening Mr. Kotterman while Luger was trying to choose a brand of sherry.
The day finally came to an end and Harris produced a flat rectangular box from his desk and held it out.
"What's that?"
"What's it look like? It's a necktie, Arthur. It won't bite you."
"Says you," Dietrich answered skeptically, but he opened the box. The tie was a titch narrower than the one he was wearing, and woven with metallic threads that shimmered--now silver, now gold--as he lifted the tie out of the box. "A present?"
Harris sniffed. "It's mostly for me. I refuse to be seen uptown with you in that fuddy-duddy tie you're wearing now."
"Uptown?"
"A gourmet meal with all the trimmings. That's your birthday present. You just have to be presentable for it."
Dietrich wasn't sure why his hands were shaking as he took his current tie off. Of course he figured out when my birthday is. He's a detective. He refused to ask himself why Harris would go to the effort of finding out.
"Oh, come here!" Harris snapped as Dietrich fumbled with the new tie. Harris whipped it expertly around Dietrich's neck and tied it carefully, fussing until it was just right. "There," he said, straightening Dietrich's lapels. "Fit to be seen in public."
"Even with you?"
"Especially with me."
Author: Amedia
Rating: G
Characters: Arthur Dietrich, Ron Harris
Ship: Harris/Dietrich (slashy, rather than outright slash)
Summary: Harris gives Dietrich a birthday present.
Word Count: 327
Author's note: Prompt fill for
dorinda, who requested the fandom Barney Miller, pairing Dietrich/Harris, with the prompts "(pick your fave!): neckties, uptown, silver." I wound up using them all. :-) There was nothing at all special about the invitation.
"Hey, Arthur."
"Hmm?"
"Wanna grab dinner tonight?"
"Sure."
After all, no one knew it was his birthday, least of all Harris.
The day went by like any other bland, ordinary day at the 12th. Two muggers wearing shark costumes who never actually succeeded because they kept humming the "Jaws" theme while they stalked their victims. A complaint between neighbors concerning the ownership of a bootleg laserdisc, which suddenly turned into each one saying it wasn't theirs to avoid arrest. And a wannabe holdup man, dragged in by Luger; the unfortunate criminal had made the mistake of threatening Mr. Kotterman while Luger was trying to choose a brand of sherry.
The day finally came to an end and Harris produced a flat rectangular box from his desk and held it out.
"What's that?"
"What's it look like? It's a necktie, Arthur. It won't bite you."
"Says you," Dietrich answered skeptically, but he opened the box. The tie was a titch narrower than the one he was wearing, and woven with metallic threads that shimmered--now silver, now gold--as he lifted the tie out of the box. "A present?"
Harris sniffed. "It's mostly for me. I refuse to be seen uptown with you in that fuddy-duddy tie you're wearing now."
"Uptown?"
"A gourmet meal with all the trimmings. That's your birthday present. You just have to be presentable for it."
Dietrich wasn't sure why his hands were shaking as he took his current tie off. Of course he figured out when my birthday is. He's a detective. He refused to ask himself why Harris would go to the effort of finding out.
"Oh, come here!" Harris snapped as Dietrich fumbled with the new tie. Harris whipped it expertly around Dietrich's neck and tied it carefully, fussing until it was just right. "There," he said, straightening Dietrich's lapels. "Fit to be seen in public."
"Even with you?"
"Especially with me."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-14 04:02 pm (UTC)The paragraph of the “bland, ordinary day” is priceless... I can see each of those particular eccentric crimes happening on the show, and they’re also a perfect microcosm of the time (the laserdisc!). And the running gag of the liquor store guy. :D But of course they have such weird days usually that Dietrich finds this one humdrum.
I love how Harris calls him Arthur. Plus the “says you”—very dry, very Dietrich. And the tie is perfect!! Harris is high-fashion, and knows that ties are starting to slim down as we go from the 70s into the 80s. But of course Harris pitches it as being mostly about his own ego, disguising the potentially softer emotions. I also really enjoy how he ties Dietrich’s tie and fixes his lapels, very intimate and handsy, but again under that disguise of ego and fashion.
Dietrich’s reaction is so touching. Such a small thing, this secret of his—but very large in his heart, how much it’s been revealed that Harris cares, finding it out and dressing him up for a night on the town together. <3 <3 <3
Thank you!!
no subject
Date: 2025-01-12 03:14 am (UTC)Your discussion of the first paragraph (the "bland, ordinary day") made me blush - I appreciate your perceptive comments (the laserdisc!) so much!
Harris pitches it as being mostly about his own ego, disguising the potentially softer emotions. How deftly you untangle the weave I built around Harris's feelings!!! ♥
Thank YOU for the marvelous set of prompts that led to this ficlet. I'm SO glad you enjoyed it.