Rietta89

It’s a weird feeling, and I don’t know quite what to do with myself.

So advise me, please!

Shadow: Biggles/EvS, 5k words - Post-Sakhalin, Erich follows Biggles around the city to protect him until collapsing on his doorstep.

Written for a wonderful selection of tags, including ‘stalking someone to protect them’, ‘hurt/sick character isn’t used to receiving comfort’ and ‘accidental touch leads to discovery that character has a fever’, all of which are straight to my id.

This morning was spent putting the finishing touches on my sign-up for the Rare Male Slash Exchange, which looks set to be good fun—I do love a rarepair! Sign-ups are still open until 8pm UTC tonight if anyone else wants in—there’s a good range of Biggles ships to choose from, including Algy/EvS.

In an attempt to distract myself from my impending return to work tomorrow, I thought I’d share a wee slice of domestic fluff that I wrote for black_bentley a while back, featuring a teenage Ginger hopping with impatience for a trip to the flicks.

A Change of Plans: Algy & Ginger & Biggles, 675 words - Ginger turned, his shoulder twitching under Algy’s palm, and came back into the room. “I was watching for Biggles,” he explained, somewhat unnecessarily. “He promised to take me to the new flick at the Palace. It’s supposed to be rather good, and there’s a showing in half an hour that we might just make if he gets his skates on.”

“I say, do you need a second, old boy? They tell me I’m a rather good shot. Not that I’ve done much duelling, mind. Bit illegal and all that. Still, there’s a first time for everything, what?”

“Bertie, for goodness’ sake, you’re a policeman! You can’t go getting involved in duels,” Ginger protested in alarm.

“Nobody is getting involved in a duel,” Biggles stated firmly.

“I shall not require a second, thank you, Lord Lissie,” von Stalhein said stiffly. “I have no intention of missing.”

“Erich!”

“He insulted you.”

“So have you, if it comes to that!”

“More times than he has,” Algy nodded with amusement.

Von Stalhein looked offended. “I don’t believe that is true, Lacey. I am not in the habit of insulting Major Bigglesworth.”

“That’s true, actually,” Ginger agreed. “You usually just sing his praises whilst trying to kill him.”

“Personally, I find attempted murder very insulting,” Algy observed.

“I could always shoot you next, Lacey,” von Stalhein said, dangerously softly.

“Are you all deaf? Nobody is shooting anybody!” Biggles shouted in exasperation.

“Swords it is, then,” Bertie remarked cheerfully. “Can you fence, old boy?”

Von Stalhein looked affronted. “I was three years at Heidelberg.”

“That means ‘yes’,” Algy translated for Ginger’s benefit; German universities with an historic tradition of duelling were not his specialist subject.

“Do you know, I gathered that,” Ginger murmured back.

“In fact, if you get up early enough, he’ll give you a demonstration.”

“I’d be happy to give you a demonstration first-hand, Lacey.” Von Stalhein sounded as though he was gritting his teeth.

“Oh, come now, that’s just showing off,” Bertie protested. “Bally bad form, if you see what I mean. You just fight one duel at a time, there’s a good lad. Now, did we settle on a time and place?”

“No we did not,” Biggles said quickly. “And we’re not going to! If I catch even one of you duelling, it’ll be handcuffs—I’m warning you!”

“Promises, promises,” Algy murmured.

Biggles lifted his eyes to the heavens and exhaled heavily. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t arrest the lot of you now and be done with it.”

“We’re policemen,” said Ginger.

“And we haven’t done anything illegal,” added Algy.

“You’ve scheduled a duel!”

“No we haven’t,” Bertie argued. “We haven’t agreed a time or a place.”

“No, only a weapon!”

“Oh, we’re definitely agreed on swords, then?”

“The only thing we seem agreed on,” ground out Biggles, “is that you’ll all be in handcuffs come tomorrow.”

“One reason?” von Stalhein murmured quietly, and they all turned to face him. “You only have one pair of handcuffs.”

“That’s all you know!”

Von Stalhein looked mildly interested. “In that case,” he said, “I believe dawn is the traditional time for a duel—Mr Jones?”

There was no answer. Mr Jones appeared to have vanished.

“Well now, isn’t that a shame?” Bertie murmured. “I was looking forward to a jolly old clashing of blades.”

“That could still be arranged,” von Stalhein observed, eyeing Algy speculatively.

“I’ll pass, thanks,” Algy said mildly. “My ears are burden enough without adding a scarred cheek to the mix. Besides, I thought you wanted to defend Biggles’s honour? Believe me, he’s levelled far more insults at me than I ever have at him.”

Ginger sighed heavily. “For goodness’ sake, Algy; accusing Biggles of insulting you is hardly the way to defuse this situation.”

“Why defuse it?” Algy shrugged. “It’s clear friend Erich is spoiling for a fight. He won’t be happy until he ends up in Biggles’ handcuffs.”

My own gift is particularly lovely, a little slice of life missing scene from Biggles Flies North that focuses on the deep and enduring friendship between Biggles and Wilks. (Three For Tea, 2315 words, G.) Biggles is his usual caring, take-charge self; Wilks is understandably dejected yet determined not to give in; and Ginger is at his bright, resourceful best. I love how Airdrop gives a much greater opportunity than other exchanges to get more fic about our favourite minor characters, and this wee window on Biggles and Ginger boosting Wilks’ spirit rejoices my heart <3

I have absolutely no clue whatsoever who my lovely author is, but that’s half the fun and I can’t wait to find out tomorrow =D