Title: A Duel
Rating: PG (bit of language later on)
Summary: A duel over honour, protecting friendship.
Author's Note/Disclaimer/Ramblings: I was viciously attacked by a plot bunny, which actually turned out to be a plot tiger. So this is a bit longer than I originally intended, but that's ok. And I will be continuing with another story (especially after graduation is over, huzzah for class of 04!). Anyway, I have absolutely NO idea where the heck this takes place. So, yeah. Oh and I don't own Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Heneage...etc. But I do own Mr Hunter and his people. All right, I won't detain you any longer. Enjoy, and please review! I'd love the feedback.
Jack Aubrey glanced across the room at the wall on the other side for the millionth time. He figured that he could probably give the exact location of each of the boards had he been blindfolded, he had stared at it so much. The day had all ready been filled with mishappenings, why should the evening be any different? Jack wasn't normally a quiet man, in fact he usually the loudest one in a room. But tonight's dinner at one of the large houses in port found him to be the most silent.
The day had started out well enough of course at breakfast. It was shortly after that he found his dear Surprise was denied the lumber for repairs, and her old masts sorely needed to be enhanced after the last storm they had encountered. After that, there had been mail, but none for him. He was beginning to wonder if Sophie had gotten the letter he had sent two months ago. Stephen Maturin had been nowhere to be found since they came ashore yesterday, and several of the crew had been drunk on duty. It had not been a good day.
On top of all of this, the man sitting across from Jack was one of the most obnoxious men he had ever met. James Hunter was his name, some civilian trader that had come into port on the last ship. He had all ready expressed his views on the navy, calling them disorderly and hinting at cowardly, saying that he had been in the army during the first war, but left due to his father's untimely death and having to run the family business. Hunter of course managed to say all of this in a humourous light, not wanting to offend the naval officers present. So as the rest of the table laughed, Jack smiled politely, glancing at his neighbor and fellow captain, Heneage Dundas, who carried the same look.
Some way into Hunter's long domination of the conversation, Jack's ear perked up at the mention of a familiar name; Maturin. The words following were not what Jack had expected. The man was accusing Stephen of being a traitor! This was an outrage! A bloody outrage!
'It is dishonourly, sir, to make such accusations when the man ain't present himself,' Jack said rather loudly over the other chatter around the table.
Hunter stopped and looked up, 'Oh? And do you know Doctor Maturin, Captain Aubrey?'
'I certainly hope so, he is my ship's surgeon,' Jack replied, his tone growing dangerous, 'And I demand that you take back what you have said, sir.'
'As you said yourself, sir, Doctor Maturin is not here to defend himself,' Hunter shot back, 'Unless you wish to do the honour? But I know it as a fact that Maturin is untrustworthy.'
Heneage slowly put a hand on Jack's shoulder, warning his friend not to take matters too far. Jack ignored it, his eyes narrowing at Hunter, 'If you do not take back your statements, sir, I will have demand satisfaction over the Doctor's honour!'
'Jack..' Heneage warned, trying to catch the situation before it fell apart.
Hunter seemed to sense the uneasiness and attacked, 'It seems as though Maturin is too cowardly to defend himself.'
'I would have you know, Doctor Maturin has killed many men before in duels, he is a crack shot.'
'Oh? Then why do you wish to fight in his stead?'
'The Doctor is not here.'
'Indeed, as has been stated. So, he is too cowardly, ha ha, I see!'
Jack's rage flared. A traitor and now a coward; this surely would not stand. 'I demand satisfaction for these remarks made tonight! I will not stand for this any longer!' Jack sprung up from his chair, his face red with anger.
Hunter smirked and stood as well. 'I accept your challenge, sir, tomorrow morning on top of the cliff I shall expect you. Unless you too prove as cowardly as some of your shipmates.'
Thoroughly outraged and insulted, Jack managed a small forced smile for the host and hostess at the end of the table along with a muttering of thanks for their hospitality, an apology for a rough ending to a pleasant evening and a short bow before storming off from the table shortly followed in the same manner by Heneage Dundas.
Once outside, Jack had no notion of turning back, not even to call for a cab back to the Surprise. His pace never slowed, not even for Heneage, whom he knew was behind him. It took the other captain a few trotting strides to catch up.
'Really, Jack, a duel?' Heneage asked once he was along side.
'I will not stand for such accusations. First the navy and now Stephen. I'm surprised that man has lived as long as he has, talking such a way,' Jack replied.
Heneage sighed, 'I do hope you have not dug yourself into a hole, friend.'
They walked in silence for a moment or two before Jack spoke again. 'Hen, would you act as my second? I know it ain't wise...but I don't want to involve anyone else from my ship,' he asked, looking over at the other.
Shaking his head and shrugging, Heneage answered, 'I suppose I'll have to.'
Rating: PG (bit of language later on)
Summary: A duel over honour, protecting friendship.
Author's Note/Disclaimer/Ramblings: I was viciously attacked by a plot bunny, which actually turned out to be a plot tiger. So this is a bit longer than I originally intended, but that's ok. And I will be continuing with another story (especially after graduation is over, huzzah for class of 04!). Anyway, I have absolutely NO idea where the heck this takes place. So, yeah. Oh and I don't own Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Heneage...etc. But I do own Mr Hunter and his people. All right, I won't detain you any longer. Enjoy, and please review! I'd love the feedback.
Jack Aubrey glanced across the room at the wall on the other side for the millionth time. He figured that he could probably give the exact location of each of the boards had he been blindfolded, he had stared at it so much. The day had all ready been filled with mishappenings, why should the evening be any different? Jack wasn't normally a quiet man, in fact he usually the loudest one in a room. But tonight's dinner at one of the large houses in port found him to be the most silent.
The day had started out well enough of course at breakfast. It was shortly after that he found his dear Surprise was denied the lumber for repairs, and her old masts sorely needed to be enhanced after the last storm they had encountered. After that, there had been mail, but none for him. He was beginning to wonder if Sophie had gotten the letter he had sent two months ago. Stephen Maturin had been nowhere to be found since they came ashore yesterday, and several of the crew had been drunk on duty. It had not been a good day.
On top of all of this, the man sitting across from Jack was one of the most obnoxious men he had ever met. James Hunter was his name, some civilian trader that had come into port on the last ship. He had all ready expressed his views on the navy, calling them disorderly and hinting at cowardly, saying that he had been in the army during the first war, but left due to his father's untimely death and having to run the family business. Hunter of course managed to say all of this in a humourous light, not wanting to offend the naval officers present. So as the rest of the table laughed, Jack smiled politely, glancing at his neighbor and fellow captain, Heneage Dundas, who carried the same look.
Some way into Hunter's long domination of the conversation, Jack's ear perked up at the mention of a familiar name; Maturin. The words following were not what Jack had expected. The man was accusing Stephen of being a traitor! This was an outrage! A bloody outrage!
'It is dishonourly, sir, to make such accusations when the man ain't present himself,' Jack said rather loudly over the other chatter around the table.
Hunter stopped and looked up, 'Oh? And do you know Doctor Maturin, Captain Aubrey?'
'I certainly hope so, he is my ship's surgeon,' Jack replied, his tone growing dangerous, 'And I demand that you take back what you have said, sir.'
'As you said yourself, sir, Doctor Maturin is not here to defend himself,' Hunter shot back, 'Unless you wish to do the honour? But I know it as a fact that Maturin is untrustworthy.'
Heneage slowly put a hand on Jack's shoulder, warning his friend not to take matters too far. Jack ignored it, his eyes narrowing at Hunter, 'If you do not take back your statements, sir, I will have demand satisfaction over the Doctor's honour!'
'Jack..' Heneage warned, trying to catch the situation before it fell apart.
Hunter seemed to sense the uneasiness and attacked, 'It seems as though Maturin is too cowardly to defend himself.'
'I would have you know, Doctor Maturin has killed many men before in duels, he is a crack shot.'
'Oh? Then why do you wish to fight in his stead?'
'The Doctor is not here.'
'Indeed, as has been stated. So, he is too cowardly, ha ha, I see!'
Jack's rage flared. A traitor and now a coward; this surely would not stand. 'I demand satisfaction for these remarks made tonight! I will not stand for this any longer!' Jack sprung up from his chair, his face red with anger.
Hunter smirked and stood as well. 'I accept your challenge, sir, tomorrow morning on top of the cliff I shall expect you. Unless you too prove as cowardly as some of your shipmates.'
Thoroughly outraged and insulted, Jack managed a small forced smile for the host and hostess at the end of the table along with a muttering of thanks for their hospitality, an apology for a rough ending to a pleasant evening and a short bow before storming off from the table shortly followed in the same manner by Heneage Dundas.
Once outside, Jack had no notion of turning back, not even to call for a cab back to the Surprise. His pace never slowed, not even for Heneage, whom he knew was behind him. It took the other captain a few trotting strides to catch up.
'Really, Jack, a duel?' Heneage asked once he was along side.
'I will not stand for such accusations. First the navy and now Stephen. I'm surprised that man has lived as long as he has, talking such a way,' Jack replied.
Heneage sighed, 'I do hope you have not dug yourself into a hole, friend.'
They walked in silence for a moment or two before Jack spoke again. 'Hen, would you act as my second? I know it ain't wise...but I don't want to involve anyone else from my ship,' he asked, looking over at the other.
Shaking his head and shrugging, Heneage answered, 'I suppose I'll have to.'