The Captain's Boy {Revised] (2/14) Andy Serkis/Elijah Wood - PG

[precious-rosie.livejournal.com]

Title: The Captain’s Boy [Revised]
Author: precious_rosie
Pairing: Andy Serkis /Elijah Wood
Type: RPS AU
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Total fiction, from the depths of my imagination.
Summary: Set in mid 1880's, Elijah is working in a high- class male brothel. The madame has fixed him up with a very special client.
Warning[s]: prostitution
Feedback: is welcome!
Beta: shy_nerthuserce
Archive: Mirrormere, various LOTR RPS Yahoo groups
Author’s note: This is a story that I started back in April 2003 and it received high praise. Sadly thanks to that awful thing called “real life , I’ve still got to complete it, along with several other projects. Perhaps this LJ is the kick up the backside I need!

* Prince Albert Victor was nicknamed “Prince Collar and Cuffs” due to his long, swan-like neck and long arms.

** A line taken from Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta “Patience”. The girls are in love with two poets, while the poets are both in love with Patience, the village milkmaid. The soldiers don’t see the point to aesthetics, but decide they had better give it a try to win the women’s love. First performed in 1881.

*** Andy played John D'Auban in Mike Leigh'sTopsy Turvy. I couldn't resist a little cameo in this chapter!

**** From "Patience".


Previous Chapters:Chapter One

x-posted to rockabillyblue



For four weeks, Elijah was visited regularly by his Captain. Cosseted, doted on, and spoilt rotten, he was indulged and treated as a prince.

In return, the boy simply adored the Captain.

Tonight, he was going with Andrew to the Savoy Theatre to see the first night of Gilbert and Sullivan’s new operetta “The Mikado”, followed by dinner at a small, intimate restaurant just off the Strand. Elijah was very excited; apart from the occasional trip to the music hall, this was his first proper visit to a posh theatre and the added bonus was that Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, and Heir Apparent to the throne of England, would be in attendance as well. Billy and Dominic had promised faithfully that they would introduce him to the Prince.

Elijah had polished his boots carefully, shined the buttons on his red tunic, and painstakingly pressed the cloth to make it look perfect. He wanted to look his best; after all, he was “the Captain’s boy” and he wanted the others to know it. He wanted his Captain to be proud of him when he was presented to the Prince.

He was jolted out of his reverie when Billy stuck his head around the door.

“Ye lookin’ forward to tonight then, Lijjy?” he asked.

“Yes.” Elijah took his napkin to the metal cap badge he was holding and began to polish furiously. “I've never bin to the theatre before.”

“Och, ye’ll love it!” Billy’s green eyes twinkled. “It’s great fun. All those busty wee lasses in the chorus – not to mention the lovely men as well! Anyway, wee hen – ” He stepped into the room and Elijah gasped in admiration when he saw his friend was dressed in full evening wear, a white silk scarf hanging around his neck. Billy waved a gilt-edged invitation in front of Elijah’s nose. “We are the guests of His Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor, the Duke of Clarence. Royal Box and everything, so ner ner!”

Elijah giggled. “So, he’s letting you out to play, then?”

“Of course! People know who we are – they daen ask questions, that’s all! Why are you dressed up like you’re about to go and play Changing of the Guard, anyway?” asked Billy, changing the subject.

“He likes me wearing this.” Elijah looked into the Venetian glass mirror as he placed the cap on his head. He wanted to cut his hair, but Andrew insisted he kept the curls.

“Och, when Eddy sees ye, he’ll like you wearing that an’ all!” grinned Billy. “I can see it now! Pistols at dawn. Ye gallant captain and the heir to the throne fighting for yer honour.”

Elijah blushed prettily “Oh Billy! Stop it!”

Billy launched into full dramatics as if retelling some appalling melodrama. “An’ suddenly up rooshes the boy they are duellin’ for! ‘Stop, stop!’ he cries – ouf! What was that for?!”

Cuffing him lightly around the head a second time, Elijah snatched the white scarf from around Billy’s neck and ran out of the room waving it.

“Hey, ye come here-!” yelled Billy as he chased the younger boy across the landing and down the stairs to the main hall. As Billy went to grab Elijah, the two boys found themselves face to face with Andrew, who was standing in the hall. He had a drink in his hand and was obviously waiting for Elijah.

“Beg ye pardon, Captain!” grinned Billy, his lively green eyes twinkling cheekily at the slightly taller man.

Andrew grinned mockingly. “You’re a bad boy, Billy! I should horsewhip you!”

Billy chuckled. “Only if you have a Royal Warrant, Captain!”

Andrew tapped Billy’s behind gently. “If you were in my regiment, boy...” he winked.

Elijah watched the mock, almost flirtatious exchange between Billy and Captain Serkis and felt a pang of jealousy. Andrew, as if sensing this, placed an affectionate arm around his shoulders and gently kissed his neck.

“Silly child!” he chided softly in Elijah’s ear. “Why should I be tempted to taste something sweet when I've something sweeter of my own?” His lips tickled the soft ear lobe before his tongue found its way into the younger man’s ear. “I think we’d better get a move on,” he whispered. “Otherwise, I just might take you now!”

****************

Elijah had never seen anything like the Savoy Theatre. To him, it was all the riches and palaces he had ever visualised in his mind. It was even grander than Madame Louise’s house in Hanover Square. Between the proscenium panels, the House curtain, resplendent in its five colours of vermilion, honey, fawn and deep crimson, dominated the theatre.

Seated in their private box, Elijah sat on the velvet upholstered seat next to Andrew and tried to take in the buzz around them. The royal box, which was more or less opposite them, was still empty.

“Champagne, Captain!” A handsome young waiter entered the box brandishing a silver tray with a bottle and two glasses. He skilfully uncorked the bottle and poured two glasses for Andrew and Elijah.

As the two went to drink, there was a tumult of applause and people were scrambling to their feet. Prince Albert Victor and his entourage had arrived – elegantly dressed, handsome young men, who had appeared with Dominic and Billy, and two beautiful young women who were adorned with diamonds and rubies the size of pigeon eggs.

Elijah could see Billy and Dominic in evening wear behind the prince, whose watery blue eyes took in the audience before him, no doubt looking for the more attractive males in the building.

“There is he!” mocked Andrew gently. “Prince Collar and Cuffs!” *

“I’ve heard that he’s very nice, especially to Billy and Dominic,” Elijah replied as he sipped his champagne.

“A bit slow.” Andrew pointed to his forehead. “Not much doin’ up there.”

The slender, doe-eyed prince seemed to whisper something to Billy, who leant forward to obey a royal command. The small Glaswegian nodded and smiled before settling back into his seat behind the prince.

But as the orchestra struck up the overture, Elijah forgot everything but what was happening as the curtain was raised and the performance began.

****************

Elijah was enchanted by “The Mikado”. He fell in love with Leonora Braham, who was singing Yum Yum, Jessie Bond’s Pitti-Sing, and finally Dulward Lely’s Nanki Poo. He adored the chorus of pretty Japanese schoolgirls, laughed at George Grossmith’s Ko-Ko, and tapped his foot to the irresistible tunes.

When the house-lights came up for the interval, Andrew looked adoringly at Elijah. “Well, are you enjoying it?” he asked, his hand caressing the boy’s thigh as he did so, before leaning forward to kiss him gently.

Elijah nodded enthusiastically and responded even more so to the kiss. “I want you to ‘ave me ‘ere, right now!” he whispered as his hand moved slowly up to Andrew’s groin.

At that moment Billy bounced into their box, oblivious to what was about to happen.

“The Prince!” he exclaimed breathlessly. “He wants to meet ye, Lijjy! Come now!”

“Not now, Billy. We’re busy!” Elijah murmured against Andrew’s mouth. He had drunk enough champagne to loosen his inhibitions in a theatre box with the man he adored.

“Please!” Billy hissed urgently. “He’s asked for ye!”

“He’ll have to wait!” Elijah moved his lips from Andrew’s mouth to his neck and started to nuzzle.

Andrew pulled away. “Billy’s right. Go and be introduced to the Prince!”

Billy looked at Elijah imploringly. “Please...”

Elijah sighed. “Oh, very well. But only if Andy comes with me!” he sulked as he pulled himself somewhat reluctantly away from his lover.

****************

On the way to the Royal Box, the three nearly collided with a rather short man, eccentrically dressed and carrying a gilt-tipped cane, muttering to himself.

“The girls were out of step! The girls were out of step!”

The Savoy Theatre’s choreographer, the somewhat unconventional John D’Auban***, an eccentric performer, music-hall artiste, and consummate theatrical, looked up and was greeted by the slight of a very flustered Captain of the Life Guards, a divine-looking Tommy and a very dapper young man. Wide blue eyes drank in the trio for a moment or two before loudly proclaiming: “Ah! Red and Yellow! Primary colours! Oh, South Kensington!”**

Billy giggled as if he understood the joke, for which he was rewarded with a filthy look from Andrew.

The strange little man then proceeded to sing in a high baritone and at full volume:

“When I first put this uniform on,
I said, as I looked in the glass;
“It’s one to a million
That any civilian
My figure and form will surpass.” ****

Andrew shuffled Elijah along quickly, feeling rather unnerved as eyes were beginning to look in their direction. “Er – yes. Nice to – er – meet you, er –!”

“’Ere – that bloke don’t ‘arf look like you!” Elijah almost yelled above the audience chatter that rang in the air. “You two related?”

“No, he doesn’t, and we aren’t,” replied Andrew quickly.

“Yes, he does!” Elijah nodded excitedly. “You could be twins! ‘Oo is ‘e?”

“John D’Auban, the choreographer of the Savoy Theatre.” A slightly lisping, well- spoken voice startled him. Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Albany, complete with his entourage, stood facing the trio.

“Your Royal Highness!” Andrew snapped to attention with such precision that Elijah and Billy looked on impressed.

“At ease, Captain,” replied the Prince, before turning his attention to Elijah. He looked as though all his Christmases and birthdays had arrived at once. “And you must be Elijah. I’ve heard all about you.”

Andrew nudged Elijah to reply and bow.

“Sir, yes, sir, that’s right, sir.”

“Are you enjoying the operetta?”

Another nudge from Andrew.

“Y-yes, sir.”

“And is your Captain keeping you well?” There was innuendo in the question and a sly wink from the Prince, who wasn’t as green as he was painted.

“Yes, sir.”

“No slacking off duty, I hope, Private.”

“No, sir.”

“I’m pleased to hear it, soldier!” Prince Albert turned and glanced briefly at Andrew. “I hope you’re keeping him in line, Captain!”

Andrew nodded. “Sir, yes sir!”

The Prince motioned for Elijah to approach him, which the boy did tentatively. A smile spread across the young Prince’s face as Elijah’s blue eyes grew wider. Andrew went to enter the box – only for the door to be slammed firmly shut in his face.

For a second he was shocked – and then straightened his shoulders and sought to regain his composure, aware of the murmurs of curiosity from the theatre patrons behind him. If he had to wait until the Prince had finished charming Elijah before they could be together again, then he would wait. Captain Serkis was a strategist, and was a patient man when he had need to be. All the same, a cold resentment was burning in his chest and inwardly he cursed the Prince with the filthiest terms he could muster.

But gradually the chatter of the audience waiting for the interval to end faded from his consciousness and Andrew began to wonder how long it would be before he was reunited with Elijah; even though he had known him for barely a month, already he was smitten with the boy and wanted nothing more than to be with him – propriety be damned!

At length the conversation from within the Prince’s theatre box caught his curiosity – and upon hearing his name mentioned, leaned closer to the door...

As he turned away a few minutes later, filled with despair and anger, he heard the sound of giggling from within that was so obviously Elijah’s.

Heart sinking, Captain Serkis sighed and walked despondently back to his box.

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 3 to follow