hello and fic offering

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

New member alert. I wonder what colour that one would be. I'm Tarn and I'm new to the fandom. The pairing has long poked at my brain but recently due to marathon watching of Red Dwarf while avoiding my homework I've given into it. So this leads me to here.

Randomly the other day at work I wrote the first double drabble. This is my preferred format for playing with a new fandom. In some cases it becomes the only way a pairing manifests. I have three Buckaroo Banzai Perfect Tommy/Rawhide doubles and I doubt I'll every write anything bigger than that for that fandom.

So here's my little offering. No beta cause my standard first beta is my wife and she won't touch this pairing with a ten foot holowhip.

Oh, almost forgot

Pairing: Rimmer/Lister but unrequited
Set: Somewhere late Series 5, so before Legion but maybe not long before
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue, not making any money.




Watching

Rimmer watched his bunkmate through half-lidded eyes. Lister was dancing about their room in his usual slobby morning attire of stained, threadbare boxers and an even more stained t-shirt, singing to himself quietly. Some inane song by one of the groups of pseudo-musicians he favored. Not proper music but oddly pretty when crooned.

He loved these moments. It didn't happen that often, Lister awake and mucking about before blockhead arrived with his breakfast. These times were precious to Rimmer. He could pretend to sleep and watch the man's every move. Studying. Memorizing. Worshiping. All under the cover of feigned slumber.

Rimmer didn't recall when it had happened. When Lister's general grubbiness had become endearing. His lack of refinement, charming. His chubby, smegging face and ridiculous dreadlocks, pathetically cute. When had disgust turned into desire?

He didn't know but it had and there was nothing he could do about it but watch and lust and sneak off to some secluded part of the ship to indulge in simulated self-abuse until pixelated fluid erupted only to wink out of existence before it even reached the floor. A fitting symbol of his ineffectual existence.

It made him sad.


Knowing

He thinks I don't notice the looks. How his eyes follow me. How he fakes being asleep so he can watch me. Thinks I'm totally unaware of his longing. But I'm not. I just don't mind so much.

It's nice to be wanted, even if it is a complete smeghead doing the wanting. Honestly, he's not the least appealing admirer I've had. That was Petersen, though he said he was just really pissed that night.

I know, it's Rimmer. And ugh, Rimmer. But I can't deny that I care about him. I mean, after all these years how am I supposed to not? But this confused "he's all I have so how can I not sorta want him" thing. It's just no good. He's a hologram.

It's worse than wanting Kochanski cause at least she's not right in front of me but still untouchable. So I don't let myself want him. Do anything I can to not to picture his sweet, smug face when I wank. Really avoid thinking about him getting a body. Don't know I what I'd do.

But I'm not gonna stop him looking cause it's all I have and how can I give that up?



These might be preludes to a longer piece but I'll have to see as I have a bunch of fic in beta I promised to work on during Yule break. Sigh.

Comments

[queen-fiend.livejournal.com]

These are both very sweet! I like the idea of Rimmer pretending to be asleep just so he can watch Lister. :)

Not proper music but oddly pretty when crooned. Awww. I really like this line!

Oh, and welcome to the comm! I'm glad you gave into the awesomeness that is Rimmer/Lister. :D

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That line was a favourite of mine to write.

[slicesmissus.livejournal.com]

cool!

And Buckaroo Banzai fic! I haven't watched that in years!

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

It's a favourite of mine. Banzai slash isn't too common but Perfect Tommy/Rawhide is a frequent pairing.

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

Hello, and welcome to insanity. ;)

I rather like these! They're very well written; they flow easily, and I like the juxtaposition of the sweet and the grittily explicit. I think you've captured Lister especialy well; the last sentence in his drabble is destilled Lister, and very Dwarf. I always have a bit of a problem with Rimmer openly admitting to himself that he likes Lister, and even longing for him, but I think you pull it off well here. It works. I'm certainly looking forward to reading more!

One small nitpick; it's Petersen, not Peterson. The ending -sen is Norwegian/Danish, -son is Swedish. < /Scandinavian pedantry> ;)

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the nitpick, like I warned, no beta. Will fix. Any critique is good as it helps with further writing. Which I should not be doing cause I have tons of homework. And yet I can't stop.

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

I know how that goes!

Also, here's hoping your wife will come around - I squicked for Rimmer/Lister at first too. They grow on you! ;)

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I sorta like having a couple pairings that are just mine. She also doesn't get my Dukes of Hazard thing, though I've never written that and won't. And she doesn't get how I can see anything redeeming in Jurassic Park 3. But though I don't mind it, I'm not as crazy about Xander/Spike as she is. Honestly I don't know if anyone is.

She's gonna be quite peeved if I write Red Dwarf slash all winter break rather then finally finishing my Jeeves & Wooster or my POTC. I'll get death glances and less kisses.

[tits-teapot.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty sweet and cleverly written. *melting*
His chubby, smegging face and ridiculous dreadlocks, pathetically cute.
Awww, yes, that's Rimmsy's Listy<3.

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm always a little unsure about new pairings. I have been watching this series for a long time so that helps. I'm finally watching the 7th series and I'll get to the 8th after that. When Rimmer left in the 7th I honestly lost interest and didn't bother to watch the discs friends have. So I know nothing about his return in the 8th. Will be watching once classes are down.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I live for it.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

I particularly liked the Lister bit. Nice take.

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Part of me almost wants to do major rewriting on Watching. It's the crazy perfectionist in me. But I also know it's my first foray into the pairing and fandom so it's just not going to be as strong. I have like 9 pages of mini legal pad paper from work filed with the start of a story after Out of Time. I'm keeping myself from typing it up since I have a huge project for a class due Monday.

Everyone tell me to do my homework.

[queen-fiend.livejournal.com]

Oh, slash or homework! The never-ending dilemma. But yeah, do your homework. I'm in the same situation, tons of homework these days!

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've been being bad and transposing the story instead. It would be easier if I didn't dislike the class.

Good luck with your homework.

[queen-fiend.livejournal.com]

Thanks, you too! Too bad you don't like the class. :(

[literatty.livejournal.com]

Hello there- Just got Red Dwarf DVDs for Christmas & am rediscovering my love of Lister/Rimmer which I was into years ago when the series 1st aired in the UK (so don't think I've ever posted in this comm before). Very nice fic! Also by a weird coincidence I love Buckaroo Banzai and can never find enough Rawhide/Perfect Tommy (and have been writing my own terminally unfinished one!)- is yours posted somewhere on LJ?

[tarnneth.livejournal.com]

Yeah but just to my own LJ. They are in my Memories under Drabbles. They are just double drabbles. I wrote them for myself cause I didn't know anyone else who liked the pairing. If you enjoy them, maybe it will encourage more.

Yeah, like I need more plot bunnies...