Warning: No slash here, just lots of sickening sap.
Author's Note: Heya! Sorry for not updating sooner, but things have been hectic. I'm mucking through though, and working on all of my fics. This one's a bit short, but I find it amusing. :-)
The American Colonies
The first thing Severus noticed about his next life was the heat. And the fact that he-or whom he had been-was *not* dressed for it at all. In fact he seemed to be swathed in heavy wool and cotton. And his feet hurt. And he was carrying some form of gun.
//Where in god's god name *am* I?// He looked around, taking in what landscape he could see through his host's eyes. He was standing on the sea shore. A very rocky one indeed.
"Sheldon! Snap out of it, you're daydreaming again!"
England! He was in England! Or at least among the English people.
"Sorry." He mumbled. He already had a certain dislike for Sheldon. He seemed weak and soft.
"And hold that musket proper like, would you boy?"
//Oh yes...I've high hopes for this.// Severus glowered inside of Sheldon. Well, he supposed he had to have been pathetic at one point.
"M'sorry."
Yes, Sheldon, he decided, was the sort of man who had a very weak handshake. And probably slightly damp hands as well. Severus wanted to be gone from his body. He glanced at the other man-who really wasn't as old as he'd imagined. He was the sort of man Severus hated. Tall, clean cut, and too good looking for his own good. There seemed to be some sort of nervousness attached to that man.
"I'll need you to tend the farm today. I'm to see Miss Smith."
"Rebecca?"
Oh good lord...Severus knew that hopeful, desperate tone. Young Sheldon in seemed, was most likely in love with Miss Rebecca Smith. And the large man holding the musket was courting her. Again, quite predictable.
"That's miss Smith to you."
"Sorry Badley."
"Well, you keep that in mind boy."
//Boy? He's hardly older then I am...// Severus didn't like this Bradley much either. He seemed pompous and arrogant.
"I will." He very much wanted to slap Sheldon. He was weak and foolish.
"See to the crops." Bradley snapped, and slung his musket in what Severus assumed he thought was a roguish manner, and headed off to a what had to be a town.
//I doubt highly that we are in England.// Severus said. Perhaps...a colony? Yes, that seemed about right. They were in a colony, and Severus was a sop. //This Rebecca had best be some goddess made flesh, or there is no excuse for Sheldon's mooning behavior.//
Sheldon was following Bradley to the town. It was all little wooden buildings, and people in clothing far too warm for the weather bustling about. Yes, this was a colony.
And there was Bradley, in the middle of the street, talking to some simpering blond wench. That would be Miss Smith, Severus assumed. She was fetching, in an innocent manner. Not the type that Severus generally found himself attracted to, but by the sudden lurch in his heart, Sheldon did.
//I suppose it could be worse.// He decided. He wanted to stay and watch, but Sheldon was heading out of town, presumably to the farm.
It was at this point that Severus began wondering what, exactly, Sheldon and Bradley's relationship was. Obviously they lived on the same farm, and Bradley considered himself superior. Some sort of...of indentured servant, perhaps? The idea was less then appealing.
Severus resigned himself to an hour or so of boredom, tending crops. He decided, resting inside of Sheldon's mind, that if he ever had the fancy to take up gardening he would Avada Kedevra himself.
Ah...but what was this? The sound of light footsteps, and Sheldon looked up. Severus nearly gagged as the boy's heart leapt into his throat.
"Rebecca!" He exclaimed, dropping his hoe and running towards the primly dressed young lady.
"Oh, Sheldon I cannot stay long!" She exclaimed. Severus didn't like her much either. He supposed it was the era. People in this time were...well, there was just something about them that irked Severus.
"What about Bradley?" Sheldon asked, breathlessly.
"I told him I needed to visit old mother Chandler. She's ill you know..."
"You shouldn't be here!"
The desperate, pathos laden tones were getting on Severus' nerves. He wanted to shake them both. Was it so difficult to run off together? But that sort of thing wasn't done in this time, he needed to remember that. They would simply have to doom themselves to suffering.
"But....oh Sheldon I'm sorry but I had to tell you!" Rebecca's eyes were watery and wide.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I...oh, Bradley asked me to marry him and I said yes!"
Severus would have chuckled, had he the voice. It was very difficult to associate himself with this sad, dreary little man. He found the whole situation highly amusing. //I believe I shall forget about this at my first opportunity.//
"You're marrying him?"
"I have to!" She wailed. Severus felt as though he were watching one of those muggle programs that ladies liked.
"I know." Sheldon was putting up quite the brave face it seemed.
"I'm so sorry Sheldon....you know if I could marry you, I would."
"But your father and Bradley would never allow it, I know."
"I still love you!"
"And I you!"
Severus-had he been in his own body-would be laughing himself to tears. This really was ridiculous.
"I have to go now." Rebecca said, tipping her head up as though she were being very brave.
"I understand. Thank you, for telling me." Sheldon sighed.
"It was the least I could do. Farewell, Sheldon..."
Of course, Severus mused as e watched her leave, it *wouldn't* be farewell. Bradley would wed her, and bring her home. And then Sheldon would have to watch them together, every day for the rest of his life. //That's a bit depressing, really.// But Severus had come to expect that.
//Whomever this person is, in my own lifetime, I shall have to cause them severe bodily harm.// Severus decided. It was the least he could do, after lifetimes of loneliness and suffering.
And it seemed that this little glimpse was over-thank god! Severus welcomed the sudden sensation of cold, gladly leaving Sheldon and his doomed love for Rebecca far behind...
~~~~~~~~~~~