A/N: Hiya eoplespay! This is my first P&P fanfic, so constructive criticism please!
Disclaimer 1: I have NO idea how professional orchestras are run (yes, half the world is screaming at me "Why the heck did you write about it then?" I understand.), so input from anyone who is a professional musician would be appreciated.
Disclaimer 2: I am not Jane Austen (if I was, I'd be dead).
Disclaimer 2.5: Pride and Prejudice is public domain, and besides, fanfiction is allowed according to copyright law.
Disclaimer 3: The author is not responsible for any stabbing of eyes or pulling of hair due to the horribleness (is that a word?) of the story... Jk...
And without further ado, Music and Misunderstandings
It is a truth universally acknowledged that when a conductor steps up to the podium, the musicians are supposed to become quiet.
Charles Bingley stepped up to the music stand in front of him. The room, which had previously been filled with the sound of 35 musicians tuning, practicing, and chatting fell silent immediately. Charles smiled. "Hello. I hope everyone's had a nice day so far." A few "hi's" greeted him. It was 7 o'clock in the morning, and many of them had to commute 30 minutes or more to get to work. "Today, however, I will not be conducting. I would like to introduce Mr. William Darcy as our replacement for Mr. Wickham as conductor."
A round of applause greeted this statement. The Penn Orchestra had been looking for a good conductor for quite some time now after Wickham had been arrested for unknown reasons.
Mr. Darcy, a tall, dark haired, good looking man strode up to the podium.
The orchestra started whispering as soon as they caught a glimpse of him. The women were giggling and batting their eyelashes up at him.
"He's HAWT!"
"You can say that again!"
Meanwhile, the men and some of the nongiggling women were having quiet conversations not involving his "HAWT!"ness.
"The William Darcy? Of Pemberley Orchestra?"
"Must be... Not a whole lot of people named William Darcy!"
"Sounds like the guy in Jane Austen's novel... What was it?"
"Pride and Prejudice!"
"What the heck? We have some serious Austen problems here... I mean, Lizzie Bennet, Jane Bennet, Charlie Bingley, and now Mr. Darcy are all in this freaking orchestra!"
"This is slightly creepy..."
"We have most of the cast for the show right here! Just grab Charlie's sister, bail Wickham out of jail, get the rest of Jane's sisters, find some random guy named Mr. Collins, and you're set!"
In the viola section, there was much of the same conversation going on, with the added twist of Lizzie Bennet being present.
"Hey, Lizzie, it's your Mr. Darcy!" cried a snickering second viola.
"Shut up, Richard," scowled Lizzie. Richard Fitzwilliam was the prankster of the group, and loved to tease Lizzie about her name.
"Well hey, it's true; William Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are together in the book!"
"1. Mr. Darcy's name in the book is Fitzwilliam and 2. It's a book, for goodness sake. Oh, and wait, you're Richard Fitzwilliam," Lizzie added with a smirk.
"Touché, Lizzie!" cried Richard, laughing amiably.
