an MoTF update of sorts
Sep. 21st, 2006 08:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsuru_sanYesterday my English prof gave my class an interesting assignment: write a story using 15 of our 20 vocabulary words from unit 3. So I quickly decided to write a scene from my French and Indian War story, Masters of Their Field. It's not my best writing because I had to make sure I included enough vocab words, but it still went off well.
When I had to read it aloud in class, I was worried as hell, but approximately half the class actually applauded. Out of about ten readings, mine was the only one anyone clapped for, and that totally made my day. ^_^ Of course, I was also reading with enthusiasm. (i.e. For Nate's lines I tried to sound pissed and for Robin's I tried to act cheerful.) so that probably made it less boring too. I was so nervous that I couldn't manage a British accent though; my hands were shaking and everything. *sheepish* Maybe next time… *grin*
I'll probably include this (or something very similar to it) in the actual MoTF story. It turned out to be a rather nice scene although I'd have to tweak the dialogue and replace some of the vocabulary words first to make it flow a bit more smoothly.
Anyways, this takes place towards the very beginning of the story, right before Nathaniel lands in the New World.
[ Sam Crane
9-21-06
Vocab. 3 Story (Final Draft)
In May, 1756, the day dawned beautifully in Newport, Rhode Island, leaving only debris and distraught fishermen with torn sails as evidence of the fierce storm that had plagued the little port city. With the sky clear and radiant and the water shiny as glass, Newport really did resemble its description in London pamphlets of a utopian town carved out from a primordial wilderness.
In close propinquity to the disheveled town, a stately British frigate the HMS Redoubtable bobbed in the water just outside of port. The formerly turbulent and murky seawaters were now a verdant green, and instead of tossing the ship to-and-fro, the waves merely lapped gently at her sides now.
Up on the quarterdeck, Nathaniel Merrington regarded the midshipmen and deckhands as they checked the ship's sails and rigging. Looking down to the main deck, the British army captain watched his men laughing and enjoying the fair weather and generally cavorting about like children. Nathaniel couldn't decry them though. After being cooped up below deck in uncomfortable quarters for over a week due to stormy weather, this very non-soldier like behavior was far from unwonted.
Even with the calm water, Nathaniel still felt his stomach lurch. The smallest rocking of the ship was enough to make him feel ill, and he could hardly wait to disembark. The army captain was just considering going below deck again when his friend Robin Tremain, the Redoubtable's captain, came over.
"Ahoy, Nate! Looking a little green around the gills are ya?" his friend greeted him, patting his shoulder sympathetically.
"Ugh, let me alone, Robin."
"Of course, of course," Robin assured, smiling benevolently. "I was hoping for your assistance with something, something that is very much in your field of expertise."
"Alright, spare me the verbiage, my friend, and just tell me what you want."
"Ah, Nathaniel, how tactful of you," Robin smirked sarcastically. "I'm afraid it's a rather difficult request to articulate though. You see, one of the cabin boys, Timothy Jennings, has expressed a desire to fence. And since you happen to be a good fencer—"
"No," Nathaniel replied before the other man had even finished. "I will not teach your feckless, annoying cabin boy to fence."
Robin sighed. He'd expected his request to evince such a reaction from his long-time friend. "C'mon, Nate, you must be bored. At least this would give you something to do until we land."
"I'd sooner line my men up for an impromptu uniform inspection than teach Mr. Jennings anything," Nathaniel quipped irritably.
Robin spared little credence for Nathaniel's grumbling. "Just for half an hour."
"No," came the firm reply.
The ship captain shrugged. "As you wish then, but if you won't help him, I will, and if I'm doing that, it'll take longer for me to get everything ready for our landing."
Nathaniel let out a frustrated sigh. "You nefarious brute! Fine, I will teach your idiot cabin boy for half an hour and not a moment longer. And we'd better land soon," he added over his shoulder as he started for the main deck. "I hate sailing!" ]
ETA:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
muted_storms drew me more MoTF fanart. Dimitri/Nathaniel this time. They look so trés, trés sexy! *melt*
When I had to read it aloud in class, I was worried as hell, but approximately half the class actually applauded. Out of about ten readings, mine was the only one anyone clapped for, and that totally made my day. ^_^ Of course, I was also reading with enthusiasm. (i.e. For Nate's lines I tried to sound pissed and for Robin's I tried to act cheerful.) so that probably made it less boring too. I was so nervous that I couldn't manage a British accent though; my hands were shaking and everything. *sheepish* Maybe next time… *grin*
I'll probably include this (or something very similar to it) in the actual MoTF story. It turned out to be a rather nice scene although I'd have to tweak the dialogue and replace some of the vocabulary words first to make it flow a bit more smoothly.
Anyways, this takes place towards the very beginning of the story, right before Nathaniel lands in the New World.
[ Sam Crane
9-21-06
Vocab. 3 Story (Final Draft)
In May, 1756, the day dawned beautifully in Newport, Rhode Island, leaving only debris and distraught fishermen with torn sails as evidence of the fierce storm that had plagued the little port city. With the sky clear and radiant and the water shiny as glass, Newport really did resemble its description in London pamphlets of a utopian town carved out from a primordial wilderness.
In close propinquity to the disheveled town, a stately British frigate the HMS Redoubtable bobbed in the water just outside of port. The formerly turbulent and murky seawaters were now a verdant green, and instead of tossing the ship to-and-fro, the waves merely lapped gently at her sides now.
Up on the quarterdeck, Nathaniel Merrington regarded the midshipmen and deckhands as they checked the ship's sails and rigging. Looking down to the main deck, the British army captain watched his men laughing and enjoying the fair weather and generally cavorting about like children. Nathaniel couldn't decry them though. After being cooped up below deck in uncomfortable quarters for over a week due to stormy weather, this very non-soldier like behavior was far from unwonted.
Even with the calm water, Nathaniel still felt his stomach lurch. The smallest rocking of the ship was enough to make him feel ill, and he could hardly wait to disembark. The army captain was just considering going below deck again when his friend Robin Tremain, the Redoubtable's captain, came over.
"Ahoy, Nate! Looking a little green around the gills are ya?" his friend greeted him, patting his shoulder sympathetically.
"Ugh, let me alone, Robin."
"Of course, of course," Robin assured, smiling benevolently. "I was hoping for your assistance with something, something that is very much in your field of expertise."
"Alright, spare me the verbiage, my friend, and just tell me what you want."
"Ah, Nathaniel, how tactful of you," Robin smirked sarcastically. "I'm afraid it's a rather difficult request to articulate though. You see, one of the cabin boys, Timothy Jennings, has expressed a desire to fence. And since you happen to be a good fencer—"
"No," Nathaniel replied before the other man had even finished. "I will not teach your feckless, annoying cabin boy to fence."
Robin sighed. He'd expected his request to evince such a reaction from his long-time friend. "C'mon, Nate, you must be bored. At least this would give you something to do until we land."
"I'd sooner line my men up for an impromptu uniform inspection than teach Mr. Jennings anything," Nathaniel quipped irritably.
Robin spared little credence for Nathaniel's grumbling. "Just for half an hour."
"No," came the firm reply.
The ship captain shrugged. "As you wish then, but if you won't help him, I will, and if I'm doing that, it'll take longer for me to get everything ready for our landing."
Nathaniel let out a frustrated sigh. "You nefarious brute! Fine, I will teach your idiot cabin boy for half an hour and not a moment longer. And we'd better land soon," he added over his shoulder as he started for the main deck. "I hate sailing!" ]
ETA:
muted_storms drew me more MoTF fanart. Dimitri/Nathaniel this time. They look so trés, trés sexy! *melt*
