The Manciple

[ismenin]

Hug the kewt!...




Hello again. I thought you might like a quick look at the story Wot I Rote for sophinisba for the FroLijah challenge. I know you can read it on The Last Ship, but I wanted it here, too, so here it is. :D





Betaed by ladysunrope. Thank you, dear.


Title: The Manciple
Rating: R, for strong swearing
Pairing: The DomLijah
Wordcount: 2,950

(Author: Ismenin
Beta: Ladysunrope)

Summary: Dom is drunk and wants a tattoo.




The Manciple

They met in the elevator going up to the penthouse in New York where they'd lived for the past four years when they were in the city together - which was more often than most people realised. They hadn't come into the building by the same door, neither had they approached it from the same direction in the street. It was the only way to protect their privacy, not arriving together. Want to hide a tree - two trees? Where better than in a forest?

These apartments were like rabbit warrens. Sure, they had other homes in other places, which performed much the same function, but they were here, now, and that's what mattered.

No-one - if they were careful - saw them come in, and no-one saw them leave. The building contained hundreds of apartments, some big and some small. Theirs was neither. It was on the top floor, giving them a fascinating view of New York's skyline. It was their bolt-hole - where they felt safe. Only their closest family and friends knew where it was, and no more than two dozen people had ever been there.

It was the price they paid to feel secure, and it had been worth it - every penny.

Elijah kissed Dom as the metal doors slid open and they stepped out into the confined space that contained their front door. No-one could get in without the pass key. Safe and untroubled. Home. Home for the season.

Perfect.


********

Two Days Later

Dom was drunk. There was no getting away from it - as drunk as a skunk. A trusted friend, who knew the pass numbers for the main door of the building, had brought him home, stopped him from snogging the security guard at the front desk, posted him into the elevator, and pressed the button.

Elijah had left the door on the latch for him, knowing that Dom would be hard-pressed to find the door, never mind the keyhole, when he got in. He had removed the key from Dom's unprotesting grasp before he left, kissed him goodbye and told him to have a great time. Dom had had a fantastic time - well, as fantastic a time as could be had without his Lighe. Then he had come home, and fallen in through the door, pissed as a newt, and giggling. Elijah expected nothing else.

Elijah knew Dom.

Dom leaned against the door frame, his shirt, ink stained and ruffled, hanging open over his jeans. There was a large ink stain on the leg of his jeans, too, and another one across his arse. Multi-coloured streamers hung from his head and shoulders. His face was flushed with annoyance and booze, as he glared owlishly at his lover, who was sitting in a chair, his bare feet tucked under himself, reading a book.

"You are a mean fucker, Wood - have I ever fucking told you fucking that? Fucking, fucking mean!" Dom put the bag he was carrying down on the wooden floor with a loud thump, and then, pressing a finger to his lips, said "ssssh!" to it.

There was a ghost of a smile on Elijah's lips, but he lifted the book to cover it. If he let Dom see it, it'd all be over, and Dom would wake up in the morning, sober as a judge, with a home-done tattoo on his ass, and he wouldn't speak to Elijah for a month for talking him into it.

Elijah knew Dom.

Dom walked carefully forward and knelt in front of Elijah, putting a rather inky hand on the knee of Elijah's second-best jeans. Elijah brushed it away. "Get the fuck off, Monaghan! That ink doesn't wash out, y' know. Fuck, dude, you can be a twat sometimes. Never - never - again try to tattoo yourself, even if you're stone cold sober. Promise?"

Dom tried his lost puppy-dog face, and Elijah hardened his heart. "Promise!"

"I promise, Lighe. You know I always keep my word to you. Besides, I couldn't reach my arse. I don't bend li' you. C'mon, mate, do it... f' me..."

"I said no, Dom, and I mean it. Fucking go and sleep it off, will ya? I'm reading."

Dom sat down, hard, on the floor by Elijah's chair, narrowly missing his companion's left foot. "Mean bugger. I only wanted a small manciple - not a bloody dinosaur. Mean, cranky fucking bugger fucking…" he repeated, adding a few more choice words - hard done by, and sulking.

Elijah, still smiling behind the book cover, pretended to be engrossed in what he was supposed to be reading. "Manciple? What the fuck is a manciple?" he asked, without taking his eyes off the word ‘intense’ which he had been staring at for the last five minutes.

Dom settled his back against the arm of the chair. "It's a kind of myth...mythical creature," he yawned, his heavy eyes closing. "And I still say you are a mean fucker for not doing it. Aw, c'mon, Lighe - it's only a little one! I want it!"

"Dude, you know I can't draw well - except for fluffy bunnies and abstracts and stuff - and definitely not well enough to do a bloody tattoo. I'd fuck-up it up for sure, and I've no fucking idea what a...whatever... looks like, anyhow." Then, his interest piqued - "What sort of mythical creature?"

Dom rubbed his nose and scratched his balls before answering. "Um, I think it has the head of a... lion, body of a man and a dragon's tail - or is it th' other way round? The head of a dragon..."

Elijah tried hard not to laugh. He knew he shouldn't laugh when Dom was being so earnest. "Well, if you intend going to Ed's tattoo parlor to get it done any time soon, you'd better know what the fuck it is you want." He went over to the bookshelf and found a dictionary.

He leafed through it for a few moments before running his fingers down the page - stopped - and then started giggling so hard his glasses steamed up.

"What's so funny?" Dom slurred, blearily trying to focus on the man in front of him - or, at least, one of the men in front of him - there seemed, suddenly, to be several.

Elijah cleared his throat and read..."Manciple - an officer or steward of a monastery, college, etc., authorised to purchase provisions."

"Is that what you want tattoed on your ass, dude - a fat monk?"

Dom frowned, and rubbed his nose. "Can't be right, Lighe...y' read it wrong...can't be a monkey..."

"Not a monkey, you dork - a monk. Like in a monastery kinda monk, with brown robes, and abbots and prayers and chanting. Look, see for yourself," Elijah offered Dom the book, and he stared at it for a bit, closed one eye, trying in vain to focus, then put it aside, defeated.

"Can't see a fucking thing, love. Never mind - if I got it wrong, You'll soon find it. I know it begins with an M."

Elijah sat down and picked up his own book. "If you think I'm going to search through a whole bunch of fucking M's looking for your creature, you are crazy, Dom. You can do it tomorrow, if you still want. Or maybe look on the net for something Ed could use."

Elijah knew Dom.

He knew that in the morning Dom would wake, sober and shocked that he'd ever had the thought of encouraging Lighe to stab needles into him, desecrating his very nicely toned and sunburnt skin with amateur artwork.

He would deny vehemently he ever asked his love to do such a thing, and Elijah would bring out Exhibit A - the bag of ink and needles - for his inspection, and point to Exhibit B - Dom's ink-stained fingers. Then he - Elijah - would say gently, in a spirit of Christian Charity, that today was Christmas Day, and that by refusing Dom his request, he had saved him from having a fat manciple emblazoned forever on his beautifully sculpted and otherwise flawless ass. He could look on that as an extra gift.

That should be good for a blow-job or two, or an extra session with a penitent Dom tied to the bedpost, his dick smothered in manuka honey...

...Elijah put down his book; Dom was dribbling on his knee. He lifted his lover up, and with a secure arm around his waist, led him into the bedroom.

"Good party, was it?" Elijah asked as he pushed Dom onto the bed and tugged Dom's shoes and socks off, then pulled at the snap of his jeans.

"Bloody brilliant! Dom raised himself on one elbow and watched Elijah pull off the jeans. "Think I drank a bit too much, though. How did yours go with the music guys?" "

Elijah unbuttoned Dom's shirt. "I didn't go, dude. I told you I wasn't going - remember? I told you I'd have come with you to your party, rather than go to the other one on my own - if I felt better. Which I didn't. I'm still taking pills for my chest infection. Y'know, parties are no fun if you can't drink."

"Too fucking true, Lighe - need a piss, now."

Elijah led Dom into the bathroom and helped him to achieve his ambition, while Dom dribbled a little bit more, this time on Elijah's foot. Then Dom staggered a few yards under his own steam, and fell onto the bed, as Elijah came hopping out of the bathroom, drying his foot. He pulled the comforter over Dom and kissed his forehead.

"D' ya feel better, now Lighe? Your chest, I mean. Now you've had a rest? I worry about you, y'know; I wouldn't have gone if I hadn't promised on the life of my first-born Mesalina Guttulata I'd be there," Dom mumbled into the pillow. "Rather stay in with you anytime. Thanks a lot for helping me, mate!"

Elijah threw the towel into the basket and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. The look in his eyes softened as he gazed at Dom lying comfortable and secure in their bed. "I know you care, you crazy fucker. Of course you couldn't not go after swearing you would on the life of your favorite lizard. And you're very welcome to my help, Dom. I'll hold your dick while you pee, anytime... Oh, and Happy Christmas!"

"I love you, Lighe. Merry Christmas!"

"Love you, too."

Elijah smiled softly as he closed the door, coughing into his fist. Damn all chest infections! he thought, pulling his handkerchief out of his pocket. Still, giving up smoking had lessened their severity, he was sure. That had been his birthday present to Dom last year, giving up, and Dom, crying like a kid, had said he'd never, ever in his life, been given a gift so precious, and had snogged Lighe to within an inch of his life, and then they had spent a very satisfying hour on the rug in front of the fire...

...Elijah went into the hallway and lifted Dom's sack of presents out from behind the welter of boots and coats in the cupboard, and took it into the living room and put them under the tree. He looked at his own parcels from Dom, and smiled. Dom had no will power - his gifts from Elijah would have been opened a week ago, if Elijah had put them beside his own.

He turned the music on low, took a handful of M&M's out of the bowl on the table, and picked up his book. Another hour, and he'd go to bed, too. Lie beside Dom, where he belonged.

Fucking idiot! he thought, fondly, as he chewed his candy, then he snapped his book shut and picked up the dictionary. It wouldn't hurt to look. If Dom still wanted a - a whatever it was - sober, he could have it. Who was he to deny the beautiful bastard anything?

Elijah pushed the glasses up his nose, and started running his finger down the list of M's....


Manticore - a legendary monster with a man's head, horns, a lion's body and the tail of a dragon or scorpion.


Christmas Day

"I wanted what?You must be fucking joking!" Dom rubbed his bleary eyes as they sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast. Well, Elijah was eating breakfast - Dom was sipping hot, black coffee from a mug the shape of a snowman, and staring at his partner in patent disbelief.

Elijah grinned, and went to fetch the Evidence. When Elijah unpacked the bag, and revealed the equipment, ink and needles, Dom choked on his drink, and Elijah rubbed his back thoughtfully until Dom could breathe again.

"I think I did a very good job, though, once I'd found out what it was you meant," Elijah said, not meeting Dom's eye in case he laughed and spoilt it all. "A manticore is a fucking hard thing to draw, even - never mind tattoo onto a moving target - namely, your ass."

Dom squawked like a chicken, and running and pulling down his jeans at the same time, raced to the bathroom. Elijah poured him another coffee, and waited, grinning.

Dom came back, laughing. "You fucker! God, I'd have killed you if you had done it. As it is I've got a nice ink stain on my arse, even though I've showered - why is that?"

He sat and picked up his cup, and Elijah buttered another piece of toast.

"Because, you twat, you tried to do it yourself before you came to me, and it's indelible ink. Thank fuck you couldn't reach."

Dom nodded, gulping his drink. "God, yes. It'd probably have come out something like one of those rubber monsters from Dr Who. Thanks for not listening, Lighe."

"S'ok. Besides, I like your ass the way it is, Monaghan. I'm glad you don't want it done."

Elijah pushed the toast rack towards Dom, thinking his lover's stomach would settle quicker with a bit of food inside it.
Dom looked at the toast, thought of the effort involved in buttering it, then lifting it to his mouth and chewing...he pushed it away.

"Let's open our presents and sing "We, Two Queens of Occident, Are," like we always do, Lighe. Then I can go back to sleep for an hour before we go to Harry and John's for lunch. I still feel a bit rough. I'll be better for a short kip."


The present opening had been very successful. Dom had, amongst other things, loved his t-shirts and the three pairs of brightly coloured shoes he'd been talking about but never got around to purchasing, and Lighe had been thrilled with his CD's and a signed copy of a rare Etta James LP.

They lay on the sofa together, Dom wrapped securely in Elijah's arms, and kissed gently as they talked.

Elijah brushed Dom's hair out of his eyes, and smiled at him. "D'you remember that time you glued Billy's billfold to his nightstand in the Powderhorn? I think I fell in love with you that night, although you were pissed out of your mind, then, too, and giggling like an idiot."

Dom nibbled Elijah's ear lobe. "I do remember. I was thinking about that night when I commented for posterity - if anyone noticed it - how much I loved you, on the cast bit of The Return extended edition DVD. The look in your eyes in bed that night was...I dunno...to use your own word - awesome. No-one had ever looked at me like that before."

Elijah buried his nose in Dom's neck, and quoted, quietly, "I remember Elijah saying that he'd come back from a day's work, everything would just be sore - his elbows, and his forearms and his fingers and his chest and stuff, 'cos it's all jagged rocks. And I thought; 'I'd love to hold you tight and just make you feel all better.'"

Dom stared at his love, astonished. "How did you remember that, Lighe? That's brilliant."

Elijah rested his head on Dom's shoulder and shut his eyes. "I always remember the important stuff, dude, you should know that. And it's what you do best; make me feel better, I mean. Cherished I think is the word Ian used for it. I feel cherished."

"I love you, that's why. It's not difficult to cherish what you love. You do the same for me - like helping me pee when I'm pissed on Christmas Eve, and not getting mad over it, and stopping me from mutilating my gorgeous body when I'm not in control of my faculties."

Elijah chuckled, his eyes still shut. "We've got two hours before we need get ready to go, Dom. Let's sleep awhile."

He snuggled closer, their bodies moulding into each other as they always did.

Dom knew Elijah.

His lover was happy if he was with him - any time, any place - and Dom tried to show him, every single day, in little ways, how much he loved his Lighe, and how much he appreciated being loved in return.

He sighed. Today was Perfect. New shoes and a Beatles compilation signed and dedicated to him by Sir Paul McCartney himself. And, best of all, right this very minute, he was in Lighe's arms. What could be better?

Sung to the tune of We, Three Kings of Orient, Are

We, two queens of Occident, are,
Not in a taxi, nor in a car;
Both on a scooter, blowing a hooter
Following Ringo Starr.

...and the not so kewt! Mesalina!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/saura_/]

I was giggling all the way through this, then I came to: "Dom squawked like a chicken, and running and pulling down his jeans at the same time, raced to the bathroom.... and for some reason I just could SEE it happening, you know? And I laughed out loud so hard I nearly fell off the chair!!!

and then this: "I love you, that's why. It's not difficult to cherish what you love. You do the same for me - like helping me pee when I'm pissed on Christmas Eve, and not getting mad over it, and stopping me from mutilating my gorgeous body when I'm not in control of my faculties." was incredible. Fun, yeah, but still such a beautiful feeling!!!

All the time "Elijah knew Dom" -to the end be: "Dom knew Elijah" *sighs* SO beautiful!!! *loves*

All in all, the speed of the fic and the wording used is fantastic. Specially cause I learned the expression: "as drunk as a skuck" which I don't think I know how to pronounce all right, but I love to know it ^_^ Thanks!!!!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thanks, my dear. "as drunk as a skunk" - skunk is pronounced exactly like drunk, so you can't go far wrong. I'm glad you laughed - so did I. Bless them. :D xxxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/saura_/]

skunk is pronounced exactly like drunk

Only with a "k" instead of an "r" yeah? :)

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Sorry, my love - I meant the vowel sound is the same. :D Giggle. xxxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/saura_/]

I figured it was like that. But it's difficult when you can't hear it :)

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

Aww...how cute! What is that tiny thing? A miniature hamster?

And speaking of cute, the story itself is delightful! Drunk, dribbling Dom (the 3 Ds!) and ever-patient and long-suffering Lighe. *happy sigh*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what the kewtness is - someone sent me the pic. And I'm not good at animals. :D

Glad you enjoyed the 3D Dom! And his faithful companion, Tonto...er, Lij! ;D xxx

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

This is an instant Domlijah classic!! I loved the Elijah Knew Dom all the way through and then Dom Knew Elijah at the end. You capture their voices and spirits so perfectly. This was an absolute delight to read and I'm going to have a big grin plastered on my face all day now!!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Awww, ta ever so! I'm glad it pleased you. I like it, myself. ;D xxxx

[ourdramaqueen.livejournal.com]

Ahahahaha! This is wonderful - their love for each other just comes through in every sentence. ♥

or an extra session with a penitent Dom tied to the bedpost, his dick smothered in manuka honey...

Uuuuhhhhhh... YES PLEASE!!!!!! *whimper*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I'll try to get that picture in a story, soon. It'd be a nice visual, methinks.

My turn to be off to the doc, now. Always something, eh? Snoogles. :D xxx

[verangel.livejournal.com]

"That should be good for a blow-job or two, or an extra session with a penitent Dom tied to the bedpost, his dick smothered in manuka honey..." Then you followed with Dom dripping pee on Elijah's foot as Elijah holds his dick to pee. This was hysterical and so incredibly loving. You are a queen of domlijah. You get them every time and make them so real. You didn't even have to write sex in detail but the image in your words and how they are made them so hot and wonderful.
Hugs you always. Mesalina is a big freakin lizard. xoxooxox v

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

She is a big babe, is she not? Wonder which house of theirs she lives in? Venice? NZ? Who knows?

I liked the thought of Dom peeing on Lij's foot - and Lij not minding. That's where the love part kicks in, doesn't it? ;D xxx

[verangel.livejournal.com]

There is no denying that the sweetness and love pour out of such a gross yet endearing moment of Dom dripping pee on his Elijah's foot. You could just see the loving but snarky look on Elijah's face feeling warm pee hit his toes. ewwww but damn they are adorable. xoxoox v

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this story so much. It's such a happy romp.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I CAN give angst a rest on occasion! :D xxx

[pattilovesviggo.livejournal.com]

We, two queens of Occident, are,
Not in a taxi, nor in a car;
Both on a scooter, blowing a hooter
Following Ringo Starr

Laughs like a drain...What a lovely story :)

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

We used to sing a version of that in school - except the first line was "We Three Kings..."

Glad you liked it! :D xxx

[lisabellex.livejournal.com]

What a lovely Christmas tale! Good thing Elijah was in full control of his faculties and didn't go along with Dom's drunken request!

:D

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Yes, Every Dec 25, I keep hoping for a big box with Lij in it, a bow tied around his...yes, well, a gal can dream! :D xxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/tweedle_/]

You can't fool me. That's not a manciple! But it would look cute on Dom's butt.

Such a lovely mix of humour and caring. They are so familiar with each and I love thinking of them in this enduring relationship. Drunken Dom is a such a treat, as is long suffering Lij. I just want to hug Elijah for knowing Dom so well. And you too, of course. ;) XXOO

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I like the way that love overcomes much. No-one could pee on my foot with impunity - well, no-one I didn't love. That excuses it in my book. I expect Lij feels much the same. Bless em. :D Glad you liked it! ;D xxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

This really made me chuckle! Thanks so much for posting and giving me a laugh ;-D The manuka honey reference was delicious!

I, too, am intrigued by that tiny critter and would love to know what it is if the friend who sent it to you can ob-Lij... Might it be a Russian hamster?

Btw, not only has our local Odeon here in Doncaster closed down, but when I checked the Sheffield Odeon listings I couldn't see TOM at all!

I have emailed them to ask for confirmation one way or the other and said that if it's not to be shown I am very disappointed and where *is* it being screened in South Yorkshire?!!!

XXXX

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

She has no idea what the critter is, Janie - she just got it off the net! Sorry love!

That is a BIG bummer re TOM. Trianne is coming down to us to see it. I hope you can get to somewhere a BIT closer than that, altho ' you're more than welcome to join us, as you must know! :D

Dom+Lij+manuka honey = BLISS! Wibble xxxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

That's okay, love, but thanks for asking :-)

It is a BIG bummer re OM! Mole_caz did a search for me and it looks like the nearest is Lincoln which is *only* about an hour's drive away. Will check that Odeon in a while to see if and when it's on... I would love to come and join you all in Cardiff, but it's just not possible this weekend, sorry. Thanks for the invitation, however :-)

Btw, Chris says a big Thank You to Richard for the DVD!